Philemon:1:8-25
Seeker Overlay ON
*
Therefore ,
though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting ,
*
yet for love '
s sake I rather appeal to you--being such a one as Paul ,
the aged ,
and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ --
*
I appeal to you for my son Onesimus ,
whom I have begotten while in my chains ,
*
who once was unprofitable to you ,
but now is profitable to you and to me .
*
I am sending him back .
You therefore receive him ,
that is ,
my own heart ,
*
whom I wished to keep with me ,
that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel .
*
But without your consent I wanted to do nothing ,
that your good deed might not be by compulsion ,
as it were ,
but voluntary .
*
For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose ,
that you might receive him forever ,
*
no 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 .
*
If then you count me as a partner ,
receive him as you would me .
*
But if he has wronged you or owes anything ,
put that on my account .
*
I ,
Paul ,
am writing with my own hand .
I will repay--not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides .
*
Yes ,
brother ,
let me have joy from you in the Lord ;
refresh my heart in the Lord .
*
Having confidence in your obedience ,
I write to you ,
knowing that you will do even more than I say .
*
But ,
meanwhile ,
also prepare a guest room for me ,
for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you .
*
Epaphras ,
my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus ,
greets you ,
*
as do Mark ,
Aristarchus ,
Demas ,
Luke ,
my fellow laborers .
*
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit .
Amen .
![[pBiblx2]](/img/pbiblx2_logo3.png){kind=logo}