He commends the faith and charity of Philemon; and sends back to him his fugitive servant, whom he had converted in prison.

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer,

² and to Apphia, most beloved sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in your house.

³ Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I give thanks to my God, always keeping remembrance of you in my prayers,

⁵ (for I am hearing of your charity and faith, which you have in the Lord Jesus and with all the saints)

⁶ so that the participation of your faith may become evident by the recognition of every good work which is in you in Christ Jesus.

⁷ For I have found great joy and consolation in your charity, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

⁸ Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things,

⁹ but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

¹⁰ I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus.

¹¹ In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.

¹² So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.

¹³ I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel.

¹⁴ But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.

¹⁵ So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity,

¹⁶ no longer as a servant, but, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord!¹

1. 1:16Onesimus was a slave (or indentured servant) who fled, was converted to Christianity by Paul and others, and who then was sent back to his master. His transition from a slave to a servant is a figure for the transition that a person makes who is freed from the slavery of sin, so as to become the servant of all in Christ Jesus.(Conte)

¹⁷ Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me.

¹⁸ But if he has harmed you in any way, or if he is in your debt, charge it to me.

¹⁹ I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay. And I need not tell you, that you are also in debt yourself, to me.

²⁰ So it is, brother. May I delight with you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.¹

1. 1:20The last phrase ‘in Domino’ was changed to ‘in Christo’ in accord with the 1590 Sixtus V edition of the Vulgate.(Conte)

²¹ I have written to you, trusting in your obedience, knowing, too, that you will do even more than what I say.

²² But also, at once, prepare a lodging for me. For I am hoping, through your prayers, to present myself to you.

²³ Greet Epaphras, my fellow captive in Christ Jesus,

²⁴ and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my helpers.

The Letter to Philemon

²⁵ May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.