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

1Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, and brother Timotheus: Unto Philemo the beloued, and our felowe labourer, 2And to the beloued Apphia, and to Archippus our felowe souldier, and to the Churche in thy house: 3Grace to you, and peace from God our father, and the Lorde Iesus Christ.

Philemon’s Faith and Love

4I thanke my God, makyng mention alwayes of thee in my prayers, 5Hearyng of thy loue and fayth, which thou hast towarde the Lorde Iesus, and towarde all saintes: 6That the felowshippe of thy fayth may be effectuall in the knowledge of euery good worke which is in you, towarde Christe Iesus. 7For we haue great ioy & consolation in thy loue, because the bowels of the saintes are refresshed by thee, brother.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8Wherfore, though I myght be much bolde in Christe, to inioyne thee that which is conuenient: 9Yet for loues sake, I rather beseche thee, beyng such a one as Paul the aged, & nowe also a prisoner of Iesus Christe.

10I beseche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whom I haue begotten in my bondes: 11Which in tyme passed, was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable to thee and to me. 12Whom I haue sent agayne: Thou therefore receaue hym, that is, myne owne bowels, 13Whom I woulde haue retayned with me, that in thy steade he myght haue ministred vnto me in the bondes of the Gospell: 14But without thy mynde woulde I do nothyng, that thy benefite shoulde not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly. 15For happyly he therfore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receaue hym for euer: 16Not nowe as a seruaunt, but aboue a seruaunt, a brother beloued, specially to me: but howe much more vnto thee, both in the fleshe, and in the Lorde?

17If thou count me therfore a felowe, receaue hym as my selfe. 18If he haue iniuried, or oweth thee ought that lay to my charge. 19I Paul haue written it with myne owne hande, I wyll recompence it: Albeit, I do not say to thee, howe that thou owest vnto me euen thyne owne selfe. 20Yea brother, let me enioy this pleasure of thee in the Lorde: Comfort my bowels in the Lorde.

21Trustyng in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowyng, that thou wilt also do more then I say.

22Moreouer, prepare me also a lodgyng: for I trust that through your prayers, I shalbe geuen vnto you.

Additional Greetings

23There salute thee Epaphras, my felowe prisoner in Christe Iesus. 24Marcus, Aristarcus, Demas, Lucas, my felowe labourers.

25The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ be with your spirite. Amen. Written from Rome, by Onesimus a seruaunt.