(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)
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Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and the brother Timothy to Philemon, our dear friend and fellow worker,
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and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your home.
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May grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Faith and Love
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I always thank my God. I mention you in my prayers.
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I have heard of the love and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and for all the believers.
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I pray that the fellowship of your faith may be effective for the knowledge of everything good that is among us in Christ.
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For I have had much joy and comfort because of your love, because the hearts of the believers have been refreshed by you, brother.
Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus
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Therefore, although I have all the boldness in Christ to command you to do what you should do,
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yet because of love, I appeal to you instead-I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
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I am asking you concerning my child Onesimus, whom I have fathered in my chains.
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For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
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I have sent him back to you, he who is my very heart.
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I wish I could have kept him with me, so he could serve me for you, while I am in chains for the sake of the gospel.
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But I did not want to do anything without your consent. I did not want your good deed to be from necessity but from good will.
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Perhaps for this he was separated from you for a time, so that you might have him back forever.
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No longer would he be a slave, but better than a slave, a beloved brother. He is beloved especially to me, and much more so to you, in both the flesh and in the Lord.
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And so if you have me as a partner, receive him as me.
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If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge that to me.
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I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will pay you back. Not to tell you that you owe me your own self.
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Yes, brother, do me a favor in the Lord; give rest to my heart in Christ.
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Confident about your obedience, I am writing to you. I know that you will do even more than I ask.
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At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.
Additional Greetings
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Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.
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So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
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May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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