Philemon 8-10
GOD’S WORD Translation
Paul’s Advice about Onesimus
8 Christ makes me bold enough to order you to do the right thing. 9 However, I would prefer to make an appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my child Onesimus [Useful]. I became his spiritual father here in prison.
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Philemon 8-10
King James Version
8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
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Philemon 8-10
New King James Version
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 (A)Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains,
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Philemon 8-10
English Standard Version
Paul's Plea for Onesimus
8 Accordingly, (A)though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do (B)what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now (C)a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for (D)my child, (E)Onesimus,[a] (F)whose father I became in my imprisonment.
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- Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20)
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
