Philemon - World English Bible (WEB)
[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.