Accept Onesimus as a Brother

⁸ So, in Christ, I could be bold and order you to do what is ·right [required; proper; your duty]. ⁹ But because I love you, I am ·pleading with [appealing to; urging; encouraging] you instead. I, Paul, an old man now and also a prisoner [^Cin Rome, about ad 60; Acts 28:16–31; Phil. 1:7] for Christ Jesus, ¹⁰ am ·pleading with [appealing to; urging; encouraging] you for my child Onesimus, ·who became my child [^Lwhom I begat/fathered; ^CPaul evidently led Onesimus to Christ in Rome] while I was in prison. ¹¹ In the past he was ·useless [unprofitable; worthless] to you, but now he has become ·useful [helpful; valuable] for both you and me [^Ca play on words, since Onesimus means “useful” or “helpful”].

¹² I am sending him back to you, and ·with him I am sending my own heart [or he is my very heart]. ¹³ I wanted to keep him with me so that ·in your place [or on your behalf] he might ·help [serve] me while I am in prison for the ·Good News [Gospel]. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without ·asking you first [your consent] so that any good you do for me will be because you want to do it, not ·because I forced you [out of compulsion].