10 that I appeal to you for my son(A) Onesimus,[a](B) who became my son while I was in chains.(C) 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(D) 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(E) but would be voluntary.

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Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

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