Paul, a prisoner [for the sake] of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), and our brother Timothy,

To Philemon our dearly beloved friend and fellow worker,

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

[because I] hear about your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints.

[I pray] that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge [of] every good [thing] that [is] in us for Christ.

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right,

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

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

who, for some time, has been unprofitable to you, but now is very profitable to you and to me:

whom I was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings;

but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

If he has done you any wrong or is in debt to you for anything, put it to my account.

I, Paul, writing this myself, say, I will make payment to you: and I do not say to you that you are in debt to me even for your life.

Yes, brother, do me this favour for the Lord's sake. Refresh my heart in Christ.

I write to you in the full confidence that you will meet my wishes, for I know you will do even more than I say.

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

Greetings to you, my brother, from Epaphras my fellow prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus;

along with [John] Mark [Note: This shows that Mark was now back in the good graces of Paul. See Acts 15:36-40], Aristarchus, Demas [Note: This man later deserted Paul. See II Tim. 4:10] and Luke, who are [also] my fellow-workers. [Note: These men, unlike Epaphras who was imprisoned with Paul, were free to minister for Christ there in Rome].