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]

The New Life in Christ

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship.^(A)

Unity in the Body of Christ

4 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,^(A)

²⁰ So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.^(A)

Live as Servants of God

¹¹ Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.^[a](A)

¹⁹ I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you very soon.

Salutation

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To our beloved coworker Philemon,^{(A) 2} to our^[a] sister Apphia, to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church in your^[b] house:^(B)

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

⁴ I thank my God always when I mention you^[c] in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.^{(C) 6} I pray that the partnership of your faith may become effective as you comprehend all the good that we^[d] share in Christ.^{[e] 7} I have^[f] indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.^(D)

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.^{[g] 10} I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.^{(E) 11} Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful^[h] to^[i] you and to me. ¹² I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.^{[j] 13} I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel,^{(F) 14} but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.^{(G) 15} Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for the long term, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.^(H)

¹⁷ So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.^{(I) 18} If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to me. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. ²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.^{[k] 21} Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.^(J)

²² One thing more: prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.^(K)

Final Greetings and Benediction

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,^{[l](L) 24} and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.^(M)

²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^[m](N)

Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

3 This is the reason that I, Paul, am a prisoner for^[a] Christ Jesus^[b] for the sake of you gentiles,

6 As we work together with him,^[a] we entreat you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.^(A)