Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

      10I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, 11who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 12I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, 13whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel; 14but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. 15For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

      17If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me. 18But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). 20Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

      21Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

      22At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.

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

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

NASB ©1995

American Standard Version
I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,

Douay-Rheims Bible
I beseech thee for my son, whom I have begotten in my bands, Onesimus,

Darby Bible Translation
I exhort thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,

English Revised Version
I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,

Webster's Bible Translation
I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

Weymouth New Testament
I entreat you on behalf of my own child whose father I have become while in my chains--I mean Onesimus.

World English Bible
I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,

Young's Literal Translation
I entreat thee concerning my child -- whom I did beget in my bonds -- Onesimus,The Epistles of the Captivity.
During his confinement in Rome, from a.d. 61 to 63, while waiting the issue of his trial on the charge of being "a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5), the aged apostle composed four Epistles, to the Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon, and Philippians. He thus turned the prison into a pulpit, sent inspiration and comfort to his distant congregations, and rendered a greater service to future ages than he could have …
Philip Schaff—History of the Christian Church, Volume I

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