DASV: Digital American Standard Version
  
                                                DASV: Philemon

 

1 From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother; To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 

2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.   

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

4 I always thank my God, making mention of you in my prayers, 

5 because I hear of your love for all the saints, and your faith which you have for the Lord Jesus. 

6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing we have in Christ. 

7 For I had great joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

8 So, even though I have all confidence in Christ to order you to do what you ought to,

9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you, I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. 

10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, who has become my son while I was imprisoned.   

11 He was once useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 

12 I have sent him back to you--he who is my very heart. 

13  I wanted to keep him with me, that in your place he might minister to me while I am imprisoned for the gospel. 

14 But I do not want to do anything without your consent; that your goodness should not be out of compulsion, but from your own free will. 

15 For perhaps it was because of that he was separated from you for a while, that you should have him back for ever, 

16 no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, as a beloved brother.  So he is, especially to me, and even much more now to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 

17 If you regard me as a partner, receive him as you would 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.  I could say to you that you owe me your very self.

20 Yes, brother, please do me this favor in the Lord.  Refresh my heart in Christ. 

21 I am confident in your obedience.  I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I ask. 

22 One more thing, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers, I will return to you. 

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.

24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.