Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you^(A) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner^(B) of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son^(C) Onesimus,^[a](D) who became my son while I was in chains.^{(E) 11} Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

¹² I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³ I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains^(F) for the gospel. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced^(G) but would be voluntary. ¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave,^(H) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.^(I) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.