Philemon 10-12

Expanded Bible

¹⁰ am ·pleading with [appealing to; urging; encouraging] you for my child Onesimus, ·who became my child [^Lwhom I begat/fathered; ^CPaul evidently led Onesimus to Christ in Rome] while I was in prison. ¹¹ In the past he was ·useless [unprofitable; worthless] to you, but now he has become ·useful [helpful; valuable] for both you and me [^Ca play on words, since Onesimus means “useful” or “helpful”].

¹² I am sending him back to you, and ·with him I am sending my own heart [or he is my very heart].