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

1Paul the presoner of Iesu Christ, and brother Timotheus. Vnto Philemon the beloued, and oure helper, 2and to the beloued Appia, and to Archippus or felowe soudyer, and to the congregacion in thy house. 3Grace be with you, and peace from God oure father and from the LORDE Iesus Christ.

Philemon’s Faith and Love

4I thanke my God, makynge mencion allwayes of the in my prayers 5(for so moch as I heare of thy loue and faith which thou hast on the LORDE Iesu, and towarde all sayntes) 6that oure comen faith maye be frutefull in the, thorow knowlege of all ye good that ye haue in Christ Iesu. 7Greate ioye and consolacion haue I in thy loue. For by the (brother) the sayntes are hertely refresshed.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8Wherfore though I haue great boldnes in Christ to commaunde the that which becommeth the, 9yet for loues sake I rather beseke ye, though I be as I am, eue Paul aged, and now a presoner also of Iesu Christ.

10I beseke the for my sonne Onesimus (whom I haue begotten in my bondes) 11which in tyme past was to the vnprofitable, but now profitable both to the and me. 12Whom I haue sent agayne: but receaue thou him (that is) euen myne awne hert. 13For I wolde haue kepte him styll with me, that in thy steade he might haue mynistred vnto me in ye bondes of ye Gospell: 14Neuertheles without thy mynde wolde I do nothinge, that ye good which thou doest, shulde not be of compulsion, but wyllingly. 15Happly he therfore departed for a season, that thou shuldest receaue him for euer: 16not now as a seruaunt, but aboue a seruaunt, euen a brother beloued, specially to me, but how moch more vnto ye, both in ye flesh and in the LORDE?

17Yf thou holde me for thy companyon, receaue him then euen as my selfe. 18But yf he haue hurte the, or oweth the oughte, that laye to my charge. 19I Paul haue wrytten it with myne awne hande. I wil recompence it: so that I do not saye vnto ye, how that thou owest vnto me euen thine owne selfe. 20Euen so brother, let me enioye the in the LORDE: refresh thou my hert in the LORDE.

21Trustinge in thine obediece, I haue wrytten vnto the, for I knowe that thou wilt do more then I saye.

22Morouer prepare me lodginge, for I hope that thorow youre prayers I shalbe geuen vnto you.

Additional Greetings

23There saluteth the, Epaphras my felowe presoner in Christ Iesu, 24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my helpers.

25The grace of oure LORDE Iesu Christ be with youre sprete, Amen.