Philemon:1:8-25
mnt@Philemon:1:8 @ And so, although I might be bold in Christ to dictate to you what is fitting,
mnt@Philemon:1:9 @ yet for loves sake, I rather beseech you, I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus!
mnt@Philemon:1:10 @ I beseech you for my son, Onesimus, whom I have begotten in these chains.
mnt@Philemon:1:11 @ Once you found him "unprofitable," but now he is "profitable" to you and to me.
mnt@Philemon:1:12 @ I am sending him back to you, he himself, that is, my very heart!
mnt@Philemon:1:13 @ I could wish to retain him at my side, so that he might minister to me in your stead, in my bonds for the gospel.
mnt@Philemon:1:14 @ But without your consent I was unwilling to do anything, so that your kindness to me might be of your own free will, and not of compulsion.
mnt@Philemon:1:15 @ Perhaps for this reason you were separated from him for an hour, in order that you might have him back forever,
mnt@Philemon:1:16 @ no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a brother beloved; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both as a man and a fellow Christian.
mnt@Philemon:1:17 @ If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.
mnt@Philemon:1:18 @ And if he has wronged you at all, or is owing you anything, charge that to me.
mnt@Philemon:1:19 @ I Paul am writing this in my own handwriting, "I will repay you." But I will not mention that you owe me, over and over, your very soul.
mnt@Philemon:1:20 @ Come my brother, let me have joy in the Lord because of you! Refresh my heart in Christ!
mnt@Philemon:1:21 @ Because I am thoroughly persuaded of your obedience, I have written you, knowing full well that you will do by me what I am asking.
mnt@Philemon:1:22 @ Please also prepare for me a lodging, for I am hoping by your prayers to be restored to you again.
mnt@Philemon:1:23 @ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greeting;
mnt@Philemon:1:24 @ so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
mnt@Philemon:1:25 @ May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.