Greeting

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon, our dear friend and coworker,

¹⁰ I am appealing to you on behalf of my child Onesimus.^[a] I became his father while I was in chains. ¹¹ There was a time when he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. ¹² I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you. Welcome him.^{[b] 13} I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might serve me in your place while I am in chains for the gospel. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your kindness would not be the result of compulsion, but of willingness. ¹⁵ Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while: so that you would have him back forever, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but as more than a slave, as a dear brother. He certainly is dear to me, but he is even more of a dear brother to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

¹⁷ So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ And if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. ¹⁹ I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰ Yes, brother, I am asking for a favor from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.