Philemon

Revised Geneva Translation

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

² and to dear sister Apphia, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

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

⁴ I give thanks to my God (making mention of you always in my prayers

⁵ when I hear of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints,

⁶ so that the fellowship of your faith may be made effective, and that whatever good thing is in you through Christ Jesus may be known).

⁷ For we have great joy and encouragement in your love because by you, brother, the saints’ hearts are comforted.

⁸ Therefore, though I am very bold in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,

⁹ yet for love’s sake, rather, I exhort you (though I am as I am: old, and even now a prisoner for Jesus Christ)

¹⁰ I encourage you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment

¹¹ (who in the past was unprofitable to you, but is now profitable to both you and me)

¹² and whom I have sent again. Therefore, receive him who is my own heart,

¹³ whom I wanted to keep with me so that he might have ministered to me in your place in the bonds of the Gospel.

¹⁴ But I do not wish to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would not be out of necessity, but willingly.

¹⁵ Therefore, it may be that he departed for a season so that you would receive him forever

¹⁶ (no longer as a servant, but above a servant, as a beloved brother), especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord?

¹⁷ Therefore, if you count us as partners, receive him as me.

¹⁸ If he has hurt you, or owes you anything, put that on my account.

¹⁹ I, Paul, have written this with my own hand. I will repay it. Though I do not mention that even you owe me yourself.

²⁰ Yes, brother, let me obtain this pleasure from you in the Lord. Comfort my heart in the Lord.

²¹ Trusting in your obedience, I wrote to you knowing that you will do even more than I say.

²² In addition, prepare lodging for me also. For I trust I shall be freely given to you through your prayers.

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you;

²⁴ as do 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.)