Philemon 6-12

New International Version

⁶ I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,^(A) because you, brother, have refreshed^(B) the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you^(C) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner^(D) of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son^(E) Onesimus,^[a](F) who became my son while I was in chains.^{(G) 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.