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8-11 And although I could rely on my authority in Christ and dare to order you to do what I consider right, I am not doing that. No, I am appealing to that love of yours, a simple personal appeal from Paul the old man, in prison for Jesus Christ’s sake. I am appealing for my child. Yes I have become a father though I have been under lock and key, and the child’s name is—Onesimus! Oh, I know you have found him pretty useless in the past but he is going to be useful now, to both of us.

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Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

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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Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

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

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Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.

The Plea for Onesimus

Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 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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Paul's Plea for Onesimus

Accordingly, (A)though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do (B)what is required, 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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Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20)