Philemon
1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and the brother, Timothy.
To the beloved Philemon, our co-laborer and associate, 2 and to the beloved Apphia, and to our co-militant Archippus, and to the congregation in your house:
3 sustaining grace and tranquillizing peace to you all from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I am always thankful to my God, myself making mention of you in the time of my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you are possessing towards the Lord Jesus, even to the extent of all the saints — 6 that the sharing of your faith might become effectually active with applicable experiential knowledge of every benefit of the One in us, in accordance with Jesus Christ. 7 For we are embracing a lot of thanksgiving and supporting influence based upon the ground of your love, because the tender affections of the saints have been refreshed with the present result that they are rested by you, brother.
8 Therefore, (though) possessing great authority in Christ to command you that (which is) fitting, 9 rather, I am appealing through love — being as such, Paul, an old man — yet even now a captive of Jesus Christ. 10 I am exhorting you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I gave birth to (while) in my chains — 11 the one once useless to you, but now highly useful to me and to you (both) — 12 whom I (have) sent back to you. You, then, receive him to yourself. This is my cherished one, 13 whom I was wanting to retain for myself in order that he might serve me within the confines of the good news in your stead and in your behalf. 14 But I wanted to do nothing apart from your assent, in order that your beneficence might not be as through obligatory compulsion, but according to voluntary spontaneity. 15 For this reason, perhaps, he had been withdrawn for an hour so that you might have him altogether forever, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave — a beloved brother — especially to me, yet how much more to you, both with respect to material condition, and with respect to the Lord.
17 If, therefore, you are regarding me a partner, you receive him to yourself as (if) it were me. 18 And if he has wronged you any, or is owing (anything), you charge this to me. 19 I, Paul, wrote to my agent: I will make good — not that I could mention to you that even you yourself are additionally indebted to me. 20 Yes, brother, may I myself have joy over you in (the) Lord: you refresh my heart in (the) Lord.
21 Having confidence toward your compliance, I wrote to you knowing that you will do even more than what I suggest. 22 And at the same time also you make ready a guest room for me, for I trust that by means of your prayers I will be granted deliverance to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus is greeting you 24 (as are) Mark, Aristarchus, Demas (and) Luke — my fellow workers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (be) with your spirit. Amen.