²⁸ There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.^(A)

¹¹ In that renewal^[a] there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, enslaved and free, but Christ is all and in all!^(A)

¹⁰ I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.^{(A) 11} Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful^[a] to^[b] you and to me. ¹² I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.^{[c] 13} I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel,^{(B) 14} but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.^{(C) 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.^(D)

¹⁷ So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.^{(E) 18} If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to me.