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Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,[a] 11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. 14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:10 Onesimus means “useful”.

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