Philemon:1:8-25
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Therefore ,
though I might be very bold in Christ to order you to do what is fitting ,
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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 ;
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I appeal to you for my son Onesimus ,
whom I have begotten while in my bonds ,
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who once was worthless to you ,
but now is useful to you and to me .
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I am sending him back .
You therefore receive him ,
that is ,
my own heart ,
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whom I wished to keep with me ,
that on your behalf he might minister to me in my bonds of the gospel .
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But without your consent I wanted to do nothing ,
that your good deed might not be by compulsion ,
as it were ,
but willingly .
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For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose ,
that you might receive him forever ,
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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 .
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If then you count me as a partner ,
receive him as you would me .
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And if he has wronged you or owes anything ,
put that on my account .
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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 .
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Yes ,
brother ,
let me have joy from you in the Lord ;
refresh my heart in the Lord .
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Having confidence in your obedience ,
I write to you ,
knowing that you will do even more than I say .
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But ,
meanwhile ,
also prepare a guest room for me ,
for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you .
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Epaphras ,
my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus ,
greets you ,
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as do Mark ,
Aristarchus ,
Demas ,
Luke ,
my fellow laborers .
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit .
Amen .