Philemon’s Love and Faith

⁴ I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear of your love^(A) for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective^(B) through knowing every good thing^(C) that is in us^[a] for the glory of Christ. ⁷ For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed^(D) through you, brother.

An Appeal for Onesimus

⁸ For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, ⁹ I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man^[b] and now also as a prisoner^(E) of Christ Jesus, ¹⁰ appeal to you for my son,^(F) Onesimus.^[c](G) I became his father^(H) while I was in chains. ¹¹ Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. ¹² I am sending him back to you—I am sending my very own heart.^{[d][e] 13} I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. ¹⁴ But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. ¹⁵ For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh^(I) and in the Lord.^(J)

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome^(K) him as you would me. ¹⁸ And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.^{(L) 19} I, Paul, write this with my own hand:^(M) I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self. ²⁰ Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. ²² Meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, since I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

¹¹ “Do not steal.^(A) Do not act deceptively^(B) or lie^(C) to one another. ¹² Do not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God;^(D) I am the Lord.

¹³ “Do not oppress^(E) your neighbor or rob^(F) him. The wages due a hired worker^(G) must not remain with you until morning. ¹⁴ Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind,^(H) but you are to fear your God;^(I) I am the Lord.^(J)

¹⁵ “Do not act unjustly^(K) when deciding a case. Do not be partial^(L) to the poor or give preference to the rich;^(M) judge your neighbor fairly. ¹⁶ Do not go about spreading slander^(N) among your people; do not jeopardize^[a] your neighbor’s life; I am the Lord.

¹⁷ “Do not harbor hatred against your brother.^[b](O) Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him.^{(P) 18} Do not take revenge^(Q) or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself;^(R) I am the Lord.

Love: The Superior Way

13 If I speak human or angelic tongues^[a] but do not have love,^(A) I am a noisy gong^(B) or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy^(C) and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains^(D) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient,^(E) love is kind. Love does not envy,^(F) is not boastful, is not arrogant,^{(G) 5} is not rude, is not self-seeking,^(H) is not irritable,^(I) and does not keep a record of wrongs. ⁶ Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.^{(J) 7} It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures^(K) all things.

⁸ Love never ends.^(L) But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. ⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. ¹² For now we see only a reflection^[c] as in a mirror, but then face to face.^(M) Now I know in part, but then I will know fully,^(N) as I am fully known.^{(O) 13} Now these three remain: faith, hope,^(P) and love—but the greatest of these is love.

Carry One Another’s Burdens

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle^(A) spirit,^[a](B) watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.^{(C) 2} Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.^(D)

¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work^(A) for the good^(B) of all, especially for those who belong to the household^(C) of faith.^(D)

⁹ Do not lie^(A) to one another, since you have put off^(B) the old self^(C) with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on^(D) the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your^[a] Creator.^{(E) 11} In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.^(F)

The Christian Life

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved,^(G) put on compassion, kindness,^(H) humility,^(I) gentleness,^(J) and patience,^{(K) 13} bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.^{(L) 14} Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called^(M) in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.