1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker, 2and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in your house: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

4I give thanks to my God, always making mention of you in my prayers, 5hearing of your love and faith that you have to the Lord Jesus and toward all the holy ones, 6that the fellowship of your faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward Christ Jesus; 7for we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the yearnings of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.

8For this reason, having in Christ much boldness to command you that which is fit— 9because of the love I rather plead, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

10I beg you concerning my child—whom I begot in my bonds—Onesimus, 11who once was to you unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to you, 12whom I sent again to you—he who is my own heart, 13whom I intended to retain to myself, that in your behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news, 14but apart from your mind I willed to do nothing, so that your good deed may not be as of necessity, but of willingness, 15for perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, that you may have him continuously, 16no longer as a servant, but above a servant—a beloved brother, especially to me, and how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the LORD!

17If, then, you have fellowship with me, receive him as me, 18and if he did hurt to you, or owes anything, charge this to me; 19I, Paul, wrote with my hand, I will repay; besides, that I may not say that you also owe to me yourself. 20Yes, brother, may I have profit of you in the LORD; refresh my yearnings in the LORD;

21I wrote to you having been confident in your obedience, having known that you will also do above what I may say;

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

23Epaphras greets you (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus), 24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-workmen!

25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit! Amen.