Greetings from Paul and Timothy
(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)

1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus,† and Timothy the brother,

To Philemon, our beloved and fellow worker, 2and to Apphia the sister,† and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church at your† house:

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

Philemon’s Faith and Love

4I thank my God always, making remembrance of you in my prayers, 5hearing of your love and the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6so that the fellowship of your faith might become effective in the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us in Christ.† 7For I have† much joy and encouragement on the basis of your love, because the inner parts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8Therefore, having much boldness in Christ to order you to do what is fitting, 9because of love, rather, I exhort you, being such a one as Paul, now an elderly man and also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.†

10I exhort you concerning my child whom I begot in chains,† Onesimus,† 11the one once useless to you, but now useful both to you and to me, 12whom I sent back to you himself—this one who is my inner parts—

13whom I was wishing to keep with myself, so that on behalf of you he might minister to me in the chains of the gospel. 14But apart from your consent I wanted to do nothing, so that your good may be not as according to necessity, but according to willingness. 15For perhaps because of this he was separated for an hour, so that you might have him back eternally, 16no longer as a slave, but above a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17Therefore, if you hold me a partner, receive him as me. 18But if in any way he wronged you or he owes you, impute this to me. 19I, Paul, wrote with my own hand. I will repay it, that I may not say to you that you also owe to me even yourself.

20Yes, brother, may I have profit† from you in the Lord. Refresh my inner parts in Christ.†

21Being persuaded of your obedience, I wrote to you, knowing that you will do even above what I say.

22Now at the same time, also prepare a lodging for me; for I hope that through your⁺ prayers I will be graciously given to you⁺.

Additional Greetings

23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ† be with your⁺ spirit.†

Footnotes:

1 F35 Jesus Christ
2 BYZ and TR our sister
2 You and Your are singular throughout this letter, except in verses 3, 22, and 25.
6 BYZ and TR in Christ Jesus
7 BYZ and TR we have
9 BYZ and TR of Jesus Christ
10 BYZ and TR include in my chains.
10 Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20).
20 Greek onaimēn, a play on the name Onesimus
20 BYZ and TR in the Lord
25 BYZ and TR of our Lord Jesus Christ; F35 of our Lord Jesus
25 BYZ and TR include Amen.