Philemon 8-14
World English Bible
8 Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, 9 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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- 1:10 Onesimus means “useful”.
Philemon 8-14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Paul’s Plea for Onesimus
8 For this reason, though I am more than bold enough in Christ to command you to do the right thing, 9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.[a] 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.(A) 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful[b] to[c] you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.[d] 13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel,(B) 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.(C)
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