Greeting

¹ Paul,^(A) a prisoner^(B) of Christ Jesus,^(C) and Timothy^(D) our brother:

To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, ² to Apphia our sister,^[a] to Archippus^(E) our fellow soldier,^(F) and to the church that meets in your home.^(G)

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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^(H) 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^(I) through knowing every good thing^(J) that is in us^[b] 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^(K) 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^[c] and now also as a prisoner^(L) of Christ Jesus, ¹⁰ appeal to you for my son,^(M) Onesimus.^[d](N) I became his father^(O) 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.^{[e][f] 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^(P) and in the Lord.^(Q)

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome^(R) him as you would me. ¹⁸ And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.^{(S) 19} I, Paul, write this with my own hand:^(T) 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.

Final Greetings

²³ Epaphras,^(U) my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, and so do ²⁴ Mark,^(V) Aristarchus,^(W) Demas, and Luke,^(X) my coworkers.

²⁵ The grace of the Lord^[g](Y) Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^(Z)

Psalm 23

The Good Shepherd

A psalm of David.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,^{[a] 4} always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day^(A) until now.^{(B) 6} I am sure of this, that he who started a good work^(C) in you^[b] will carry it on to completion^(D) until the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ Indeed, it is right^(E) for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,^[c] and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment^(F) and in the defense^(G) and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸ For God is my witness,^(H) how deeply I miss all of you^(I) with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And I pray this: that your love^(J) will keep on growing^(K) in knowledge and every kind of discernment,^{(L) 10} so that you may approve the things that are superior^(M) and may be pure^(N) and blameless^(O) in the day of Christ,^{(P) 11} filled with the fruit^(Q) of righteousness^(R) that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory^(S) and praise of God.