| 1:1: Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, |
| 1:2: to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: |
| 1:3: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 1:4: I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, |
| 1:5: hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; |
| 1:6: that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. |
| 1:7: For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. |
| 1:8: Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, |
| 1:9: yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. |
| 1:10: I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,{Onesimus means "useful."} |
| 1:11: who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. |
| 1:12: I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, |
| 1:13: whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the gospel. |
| 1:14: But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. |
| 1:15: For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, |
| 1:16: no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. |
| 1:17: If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. |
| 1:18: But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account. |
| 1:19: I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides). |
| 1:20: Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord. |
| 1:21: Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say. |
| 1:22: Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you. |
| 1:23: Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, |
| 1:24: as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. |
| 1:25: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. |
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