⁹ yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.^{[a] 10} I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.^(A)

¹² I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.^{[a] 13} I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel,^{(A) 14} but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.^{(B) 15} Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for the long term, ¹⁶ no 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.^(C)

¹⁷ So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.^(D)