Therefore, (A)though I have [a]enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is (B)proper, yet for love’s sake I rather (C)appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, [b]an (D)old man, and now also (E)a prisoner of (F)Christ Jesus—

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

10 I (G)appeal to you for my (H)[c]son [d](I)Onesimus, whom I [e]fathered in my [f]imprisonment, 11 who previously 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, sending my very heart, 13 whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my [g](J)imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would (K)not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will.

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Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:8 Lit much
  2. Philemon 1:9 Or an ambassador
  3. Philemon 1:10 Or child
  4. Philemon 1:10 I.e., useful
  5. Philemon 1:10 I.e., led to the Lord
  6. Philemon 1:10 Lit bonds
  7. Philemon 1:13 Lit bonds

So dio, although echō in en Christ Christos I have echō sufficient polys freedom parrēsia to order epitassō you sy to do what ho you ought anēkō, yet for dia · ho love’ s agapē sake I prefer mallon to appeal parakaleō to you— I toioutos, Paul Paulos, an old man presbytēs and de even kai now nyni a prisoner desmios for the sake of Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous 10 I appeal parakaleō to you sy for peri · ho my emos child teknon, Onesimus Onēsimos, whose hos father I became gennaō while en in ho prison desmos. 11 · ho Formerly pote he was of no use achrēstos to you sy, but de now nyni he has become useful euchrēstos both kai to you sy and kai to me egō. 12 I am sending anapempō him hos back to you sy, that houtos is eimi, the one who autos is · ho my own emos heart splanchnon. 13 I egō wanted boulomai to keep katechō him hos with pros me emautou, so that hina he could minister diakoneō to me egō on hyper your sy behalf during en my ho imprisonment desmos for the ho gospel euangelion, 14 but de I did thelō not oudeis want thelō to do poieō anything oudeis without chōris · ho your sos consent gnōmē, so that hina your sy helpfulness agathos might eimi not be eimi by kata compulsion anankē · ho but alla by kata your own free will hekousios.

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