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
whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel:

Darby Bible Translation
whom I was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings;

English Revised Version
whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

Webster's Bible Translation
Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel:

Weymouth New Testament
It was my wish to keep him at my side for him to attend to my wants, as your representative, during my imprisonment for the Good News.

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

Young's Literal Translation
whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,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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