# Philemon 1

[[Philemon]]
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###### v1 
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, 

###### v2 
to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: 

###### v3 
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

###### v4 
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 

###### v5 
hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints, 

###### v6 
that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. 

###### v7 
For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. 

###### v8 
Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, 

###### v9 
yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 

###### v10 
I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus, 

###### v11 
who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. 

###### v12 
I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 

###### v13 
whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. 

###### v14 
But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. 

###### v15 
For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, 

###### v16 
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. 

###### v17 
If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. 

###### v18 
But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account. 

###### v19 
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). 

###### v20 
Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord. 

###### v21 
Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say. 

###### v22 
Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you. 

###### v23 
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 

###### v24 
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 

###### v25 
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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[[Philemon]]
