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
Revised Standard Version
Paul’s Plea for Onesimus
8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an ambassador[a] and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Ones′imus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful[b] 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 on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Philemon 1:9 Or an old man
- Philemon 1:11 The name Onesimus means useful or (compare verse 20) beneficial
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Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.