Philemon 8-14

Easy-to-Read Version

Accept Onesimus as a Brother

⁸ There is something that you should do. And because of the authority I have in Christ, I feel free to command you to do it. ⁹ But I am not commanding you; I am asking you to do it out of love. I, Paul, am an old man now, and I am a prisoner for Christ Jesus. ¹⁰ I am asking you for my son Onesimus. He became my son while I was in prison. ¹¹ In the past he was useless to you. But now he has become useful^[a] for both you and me.

¹² I am sending him back to you, but it’s as hard as losing part of myself. ¹³ I would like to keep him here to help me while I am still in prison for telling the Good News. By helping me here, he would be representing you. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without asking you first. Then whatever you do for me will be what you want to do, not what I forced you to do.