The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

1 Paul handling a base and small matter, yet according to his manner mounteth aloft unto God. 8 Sending again to Philemon his vagabond and thievish servant, he entreateth pardon for him, and very gravely preacheth of Christian equity.

¹ Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and our brother Timothy, unto Philemon our dear friend, and fellow helper,

² And to our dear sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the Church that is in thine house:

³ Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I ^(A)give thanks to my God, making mention always of thee in my prayers,

⁵ (When I hear of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all Saints.)

⁶ That the ^[a]fellowship of thy faith may be made effectual, and that whatsoever good thing is in you through Christ Jesus, may be ^[b]known.

⁷ For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because by thee, brother, the Saints ^[c]bowels are comforted.

⁸ Wherefore, though I be very bold in Christ to command thee that which is convenient,

^9 [d]Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, though I be as I am, even Paul aged, and even now a prisoner for Jesus Christ.

¹⁰ I beseech thee for my son ^(B)Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,

¹¹ Which in times past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable both to thee and to me.

¹² Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is mine own ^[e]bowels,

¹³ Whom I would have received with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the Gospel.

¹⁴ But without thy mind would I do nothing, that thy benefit should not be as it were of ^[f]necessity, but willingly.

¹⁵ It may be that he therefore ^[g]departed for ^[h]a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever,

¹⁶ Not now as a servant, but above a servant, even as a brother beloved, specially to me: how much more then unto thee, both in the ^[i]flesh and in the Lord?

¹⁷ If therefore thou count our things common, receive him as myself.

¹⁸ If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on my accounts.

¹⁹ I Paul have written this with mine own hand: I will recompense it, albeit I do not say to thee, that thou owest moreover unto me even thine own self.

^20 [j]Yea, brother, let me obtain this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord.

²¹ Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote unto thee knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say,

²² Moreover also prepare me lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall be freely given unto you.

²³ There salute thee Epaphras my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus,

²⁴ Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow helpers.

²⁵ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen.

¶ Written from Rome to Philemon, and sent by Onesimus a servant.