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[1] PAUL, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Ti-mo'the-us, unto Phi-le'mon our dearly beloved and our fellow-worker,
[2] And to our beloved Ap'phi-a and Archip'pus our fellow-labourer, and to the congregation in your house:
[3] Grace be with you, and peace, from God our Father and our LORD Jesus Christ.
[4] I thank my God, and always make mention of you in my prayers,
[5] Since I have heard of your faith and love, which you have toward our LORD Jesus, and toward all saints;
[6] That the participation of your faith may bear fruits in works, and in knowledge of everything that is good which you have in Jesus Christ.
[7] For we have great joy and consolation in your love, and the hearts of the saints are refreshed.
[8] For this reason, I have great boldness in Christ, to command of you those things which are right,
[9] And for love's sake I earnestly beseech you; even I, Paul, an old man as you know, and now also a prisoner for the sake of Jesus Christ.
[10] I beseech you on behalf of my son Ones'i- mus, whom I converted during my imprisonment:
[11] But of whom in the past you could not make use, but now he is very useful both to you and to me.
[12] I send him to you again: welcome him as my own boy:
[13] For I would have kept him with me to minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel:
[14] But I did not wish to do anything without consulting you, that your good deeds might not be done as though by compulsion, but of your own desire.
[15] Perhaps this was the reason why he left you for a while, that you can now engage him for ever;
[16] Henceforth not as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, and much more to you, both in the flesh and in our LORD.
[17] Now, therefore, if you still count me a partner, welcome him as you would me.
[18] And if he has caused you any loss, or if he owes you anything, put it on my account:
[19] I, Paul, have written this with my own hand; I will repay it, not reminding you that you owe to me even your own life.
[20] Indeed, my brother, let me have comfort through you in our LORD: refresh my heart in Christ.
[21] Because I have confidence in your obedience, I wrote to you, knowing that you will also do more than I ask.
[22] In addition to all this, prepare me a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be spared to come to you.
[23] Ep'a-phras, my fellow prisoner in Jesus Christ, salutes you;
[24] So do Mark, Ar-is-tar'chus, De'mas, and Luke, my fellow-workers.
[25] The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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