1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother,Unto Phile´mon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer,
2 and to our beloved Ap´phi-a, and Archip´pus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house:
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5 hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6 that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
9 yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech thee for my son Ones´imus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11 which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
12 whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
13 whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
14 but without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
16 not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account;
19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23 There salute thee Ep´aphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 Mark, Aristar´chus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.