Philemon 1

Philemon 1

Greeting

1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,[#Eph. 3:1]

To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer,

2to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:[#Col. 4:17]

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,[#Eph. 1:16; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:3]

5hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,[#Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:4; 1 Thess. 3:6]

6that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.[#Phil. 1:9; (Col. 1:9; 3:10; James 2:14–17); #(1 Thess. 5:18)]

7For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

The Plea for Onesimus

8Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting,

9yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you —being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—

10I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains,[#Col. 4:9]

11who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

12I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

13whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

14But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.[#2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Pet. 5:2]

15For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,

16no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.[#Eph. 6:5; Col. 3:22]

Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged

17If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

18But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.

19I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.[#1 Cor. 16:21; Gal. 6:11; 2 Thess. 3:17]

20Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.[#2 Cor. 7:16]

22But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.[#Phil. 1:25; 2:24; #2 Cor. 1:11]

Farewell

23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,[#Col. 1:7; 4:12]

24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.[#Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37–39; Col. 4:10; #Acts 19:29; 27:2; Col. 4:10; #Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10; #2 Tim. 4:11]

25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.[#2 Tim. 4:22]

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Published by: Thomas Nelson, Inc.