Philemon  American Standard Version

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy ^[a]our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker, ² and to Apphia ^[b]our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house: ³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers, ⁵ hearing of ^[c]thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; ⁶ that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in ^[d]you, unto Christ. ⁷ For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

⁸ Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting, ⁹ yet for love’s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul ^[e]the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus: ¹⁰ I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, ^[f]Onesimus, ¹¹ who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me: ¹² whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart: ¹³ whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the ^[g]gospel: ¹⁴ but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will. ¹⁵ For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever; ¹⁶ no longer as a ^[h]servant, but more than a ^[i]servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord. ¹⁷ If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself. ¹⁸ But if he hath wronged thee at all, or oweth thee aught, put that to mine account; ¹⁹ I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides. ²⁰ Yea, brother, let me have ^[j]joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.

²¹ Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say. ²² But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.

²³ Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee; ²⁴ and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.

²⁵ The grace of ^[k]our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. ^[l]Amen.