Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy my brother, - unto Philemon the beloved, and a fellow worker of ours,

to my sister Apphia, to my fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church which meets at Philemon's house. From Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy.

May grace be granted to you all, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

and thank my God for the account I have of your faith in the Lord Jesus and the love you bear to all the saints;

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

For I have had great joy and comfort and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints (God’s people) have been refreshed through you, my brother.

And so, though my union with Christ enables me, with all confidence, to dictate the course that you should adopt,

I prefer to make my appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner of the Messiah Jesus,

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:

Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,

for perhaps he has been separated from you for a time that you may have him back forever,

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

but if he have wronged thee anything or owe anything to thee, put this to my account.

I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

having been confident in thy obedience I did write to thee, having known that also above what I may say thou wilt do;

But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with the spirit of every one of you.