Philemon 8-14

Revised Standard Version

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, ⁹ yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an ambassador^[a] and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ I appeal to you for my child, Ones′imus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. ¹¹ (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful^[b] to you and to me.) ¹² I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. ¹³ I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel; ¹⁴ but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will.