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Therefore, (A)though I have much boldness in Christ to command you to do what is (B)proper, yet for love’s sake I rather (C)plead with you—since I am such a person as Paul, [a]the (D)aged, and now also (E)a prisoner of (F)Christ Jesus—

Plea for Onesimus

10 I (G)plead with you for my (H)child [b](I)Onesimus, of whom I became a [c]father in my chains, 11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, my very heart, 13 whom I intended to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my (J)chains for the gospel, 14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would (K)not be, in effect, by compulsion but voluntarily.

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Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:9 Or an ambassador
  2. Philemon 1:10 Useful
  3. Philemon 1:10 Or begotten

An Appeal for Onesimus

For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man[a] and now also as a prisoner(A) of Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my son,(B) Onesimus.[b](C) I became his father(D) 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.[c][d] 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 9 Or an ambassador
  2. 10 In Gk, Onesimus means “useful”
  3. 12 Other mss read him back. Receive him, my own heart.
  4. 12 Lit you—that is, my own heart