¹⁰ I appeal to you for ^(A)my child, ^(B)Onesimus,^{[a] (C)}whose father I became in my imprisonment. ¹¹ (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful 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 ^(D)on your behalf ^(E)during my imprisonment for the gospel, ¹⁴ but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be ^(F)by compulsion but of your own accord. ¹⁵ For this perhaps is why ^(G)he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, ^16 (H)no longer as a bondservant^[b] but more than a bondservant, as ^(I)a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, ^(J)both in the flesh and in the Lord.

¹⁷ So if you consider me ^(K)your partner, receive him as you would receive me. ¹⁸ If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. ^19 (L)I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.

Pray for All People

2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ^2 (A)for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and ^(B)dignified in every way.

Teach Sound Doctrine

2 But as for you, teach what accords with ^(A)sound^[a] doctrine. ² Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, ^(B)sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. ^3 (C)Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, ^(D)not slanderers ^(E)or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, ^(F)pure, ^(G)working at home, kind, and ^(H)submissive to their own husbands, ^(I)that the word of God may not be reviled. ⁶ Likewise, urge ^(J)the younger men to be self-controlled. ⁷ Show yourself in all respects to be ^(K)a model of good works, and in your teaching ^(L)show integrity, ^(M)dignity, ⁸ and ^(N)sound speech that cannot be condemned, ^(O)so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.