Philemon
New King James Version
Greeting
1 Paul, a (A)prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to [a]the beloved Apphia, (B)Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Love and Faith
4 (C)I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 (D)hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective (E)by the acknowledgment of (F)every good thing which is in [b]you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we [c]have great [d]joy and [e]consolation in your love, because the [f]hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
The Plea for Onesimus
8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— 10 I appeal to you for my son (G)Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.
12 I am sending him [g]back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own [h]heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, (H)that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.
15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 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 (I)flesh and in the Lord.
Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged
17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own (J)hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 (K)Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for (L)I trust that (M)through your prayers I shall be granted to you.
Farewell
23 (N)Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do (O)Mark, (P)Aristarchus, (Q)Demas, (R)Luke, my fellow laborers.
25 (S)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Footnotes
- Philemon 1:2 NU our sister Apphia
- Philemon 1:6 NU, M us
- Philemon 1:7 NU had
- Philemon 1:7 M thanksgiving
- Philemon 1:7 comfort
- Philemon 1:7 Lit. inward parts, heart, liver, and lungs
- Philemon 1:12 NU back to you in person, that is, my own heart,
- Philemon 1:12 See v. 7.
Philemon 9
New King James Version
9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—
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Colossians 1:1
New King James Version
Greeting
1 Paul, (A)an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
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Philippians 2:25
New King James Version
Epaphroditus Praised
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you (A)Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and (B)fellow soldier, (C)but your messenger and (D)the one who ministered to my need;
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Ephesians 3:1
New King James Version
The Mystery Revealed
3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
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1 Corinthians 3:9
New King James Version
9 For (A)we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are (B)God’s building.
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2 Timothy 1:8
New King James Version
Not Ashamed of the Gospel
8 (A)Therefore do not be ashamed of (B)the testimony of our Lord, nor of me (C)His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
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1 Thessalonians 3:2
New King James Version
2 and sent (A)Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,
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Colossians 4:11
New King James Version
11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.
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Philippians 4:3
New King James Version
3 [a]And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who (A)labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in (B)the Book of Life.
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- Philippians 4:3 NU, M Yes
Ephesians 4:1
New King James Version
Walk in Unity
4 I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to (A)walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
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- Ephesians 4:1 Lit. in
- Ephesians 4:1 exhort, encourage
2 Corinthians 1:1
New King James Version
Greeting
1 Paul, (A)an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and (B)Timothy our brother,
To the church of God which is at Corinth, (C)with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
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Philemon 24
New King James Version
24 as do (A)Mark, (B)Aristarchus, (C)Demas, (D)Luke, my fellow laborers.
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2 Thessalonians 1:1
New King James Version
Greeting
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
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Ephesians 6:20
New King James Version
20 for which (A)I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Read full chapterScripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.