Philemon 8-14
Legacy Standard Bible
8 Therefore, (A)though I have much boldness in Christ to command you to do what is (B)proper, 9 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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Philemon 1:9 Or an ambassador
- Philemon 1:10 Useful
- Philemon 1:10 Or begotten
Philemon 8-14
New Living Translation
Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus
8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. 9 But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.[a]
10 I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. 11 Onesimus[b] hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.
13 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.
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