Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 From Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy - To our friend and fellow worker Philemon,
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Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
2 and the church that meets in your house, and our sister Apphia, and our fellow soldier Archippus:
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to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 Brother Philemon, every time I pray, I mention you and give thanks to my God.
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I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
5 For I hear of your love for all of God's people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus.
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hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
6 My prayer is that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union with Christ.
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that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us, in Christ Jesus.
7 Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God's people.
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For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done.
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Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
9 But because I love you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake.
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yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus.
10 So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father.
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I beg you for my child, whom I have fathered in my bonds, Onesimus,
11 At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
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who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me;
12 I am sending him back to you now, and with him goes my heart.
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I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
13 I would like to keep him here with me, while I am in prison for the gospel's sake, so that he could help me in your place.
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whom I wanted to keep with me, that in your behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the gospel.
14 However, I do not want to force you to help me; rather, I would like for you to do it of your own free will. So I will not do anything unless you agree.
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But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
15 It may be that Onesimus was away from you for a short time so that you might have him back for all time.
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For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,
16 And now he is not just a slave, but much more than a slave: he is a dear brother in Christ. How much he means to me! And how much more he will mean to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord!
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no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, specially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 So, if you think of me as your partner, welcome him back just as you would welcome me.
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If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to my account.
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But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.
19 Here, I will write this with my own hand: [I, Paul, will pay you back.] (I should not have to remind you, of course, that you owe your very self to me.)
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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).
20 So, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord's sake; as a brother in Christ, cheer me up!
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Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 I am sure, as I write this, that you will do what I ask - in fact I know that you will do even more.
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Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
22 At the same time, get a room ready for me, because I hope that God will answer the prayers of all of you and give me back to you.
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Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
23 Epaphras, who is in prison with me for the sake of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings,
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Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
24 and so do my co-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.
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as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.