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The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 1 -

(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)
1
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
2
to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your (a) house:
3
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Faith and Love

4
I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,
5
because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
6
I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
7
I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8
So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,
9
I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
10
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus,(b) whose father I became while I was in chains.
11
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12
I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.
13
I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
14
But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.
15
For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—
16
no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.
17
So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18
But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.
19
I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
20
Yes, brother, let me have some benefit (c) from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21
Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
22
In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Additional Greetings

23
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,
24
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.(d)

Footnotes

(a)1:2 You and Your are singular throughout this letter, except in verses 3, 22, and 25.
(b)1:10 Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20).
(c)1:20 Greek onaimēn, a play on the name Onesimus
(d)1:25 BYZ and TR include Amen.
(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)
1
Paul, a prisoner of Christ (a) Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
2
to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
3
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Faith and Love

4
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
5
hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
6
that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
7
For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8
Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
9
yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,(b)
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.
15
For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever,
16
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17
If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18
But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.
19
I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).
20
Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
21
Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
22
Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Additional Greetings

23
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.
(b)1:10 Onesimus means “useful”.
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