1 PAUL, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Ti-mo'the-us, unto Phi-le'mon our dearly beloved and our fellow-worker,

2 And to our beloved Ap'phi-a and Archip'pus our fellow-labourer, and to the congregation in your house:

3 Grace be with you, and peace, from God our Father and our LORD Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God, and always make mention of you in my prayers,

5 Since I have heard of your faith and love, which you have toward our LORD Jesus, and toward all saints;

6 That the participation of your faith may bear fruits in works, and in knowledge of everything that is good which you have in Jesus Christ.

7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, and the hearts of the saints are refreshed.

8 For this reason, I have great boldness in Christ, to command of you those things which are right,

9 And for love's sake I earnestly beseech you; even I, Paul, an old man as you know, and now also a prisoner for the sake of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech you on behalf of my son Ones'i- mus, whom I converted during my imprisonment:

11 But of whom in the past you could not make use, but now he is very useful both to you and to me.

12 I send him to you again: welcome him as my own boy:

13 For I would have kept him with me to minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel:

14 But I did not wish to do anything without consulting you, that your good deeds might not be done as though by compulsion, but of your own desire.

15 Perhaps this was the reason why he left you for a while, that you can now engage him for ever;

16 Henceforth not as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, and much more to you, both in the flesh and in our LORD.

17 Now, therefore, if you still count me a partner, welcome him as you would me.

18 And if he has caused you any loss, or if he owes you anything, put it on my account:

19 I, Paul, have written this with my own hand; I will repay it, not reminding you that you owe to me even your own life.

20 Indeed, my brother, let me have comfort through you in our LORD: refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Because I have confidence in your obedience, I wrote to you, knowing that you will also do more than I ask.

22 In addition to all this, prepare me a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be spared to come to you.

23 Ep'a-phras, my fellow prisoner in Jesus Christ, salutes you;

24 So do Mark, Ar-is-tar'chus, De'mas, and Luke, my fellow-workers.

25 The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.