Thematic Bible
Philemon 1:1 (show verse)
Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and my brother Timothy, to our dearly loved fellow-worker Philemon,
Philemon 1:2 (show verse)
to our sister Apphia, to our fellow-soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets at your house:
Philemon 1:3 (show verse)
spiritual blessing be with you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
No Themes for this verse.
Philemon 1:4 (show verse)
I always thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers,
Philemon 1:5 (show verse)
because I continue to hear of the love and faith you have in the Lord Jesus and all His people,
Philemon 1:6 (show verse)
and I pray that their sharing of your faith may result in their recognition in us of everything that is right with reference to Christ.
No Themes for this verse.
Philemon 1:7 (show verse)
Yes, I have felt great joy and encouragement over your love, because the hearts of God's people have been refreshed by you, my brother.
Philemon 1:8 (show verse)
So, although through union with Christ I have full freedom to order you to do your duty,
No Themes for this verse.
Philemon 1:9 (show verse)
yet I prefer to appeal to you for love's sake, although I am such as I am, Paul an envoy of Christ Jesus but now a prisoner for Him too;
Philemon 1:10 (show verse)
yes, I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I have become while wearing these chains.
Philemon 1:11 (show verse)
Once he proved to be useless, but now he is useful to you and me;
Philemon 1:12 (show verse)
I am sending him back to you, which is all the same as sending my very heart.
Philemon 1:13 (show verse)
I would have liked to keep him with me, to wait on me in your stead while I wear these chains for the good news,
Philemon 1:14 (show verse)
but I would not do a single thing about it without your consent, so that this kindness of yours to me might not seem to come by compulsion but voluntarily.
Philemon 1:15 (show verse)
For perhaps it was for this reason that he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,
Philemon 1:16 (show verse)
not as a slave any longer but more than a slave, a dearly loved brother, especially to me and much more to you, both as a servant and as a Christian.
Philemon 1:17 (show verse)
So, if you consider me a comrade, take him to your bosom as you would me.
Philemon 1:18 (show verse)
And if he has done you any wrong and owes you anything, charge it to my account,
Philemon 1:19 (show verse)
I, Paul, write it with my own hand, I will pay it in full -- not to mention the fact that you owe me your very self besides.
Philemon 1:20 (show verse)
Yes, brother, I would like some return myself from you in the Lord's work. Through Christ refresh my heart.
Philemon 1:21 (show verse)
I write you in perfect confidence in your compliance with my wish, because I am sure that you will do even more than I ask.
Philemon 1:22 (show verse)
And have a guest-room ready for me, too, for I hope that through your prayers I shall have the gracious privilege of coming to you.
Philemon 1:23 (show verse)
Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in the cause of Christ Jesus, wishes to be remembered to you.
Philemon 1:24 (show verse)
So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow-workers.
Philemon 1:25 (show verse)
The spiritual blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.