Philemon 1

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus and from our brother Timothy; to our dear fel ow workerPhilemon,	1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
2 our sister Apphia, our fellow soldier Archippus and the church that meets in your house.	2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
3 Grace and the peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.	3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God, mentioning you in my prayers,	4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5 because I hear of the love and the faith which you have for the Lord Jesus and for al God's holypeople.	5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6 I pray that your fel owship in faith may come to expression in ful knowledge of all the good we can dofor Christ.	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 I have received much joy and encouragement by your love; you have set the hearts of God's holypeople at rest.	7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
8 Therefore, although in Christ I have no hesitations about telling you what your duty is,	8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
9 I am rather appealing to your love, being what I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner ofChrist Jesus.	9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I am appealing to you for a child of mine, whose father I became while wearing these chains: I meanOnesimus.	10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11 He was of no use to you before, but now he is useful both to you and to me.	11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
12 I am sending him back to you -- that is to say, sending you my own heart.	12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
13 I should have liked to keep him with me; he could have been a substitute for you, to help me while Iam in the chains that the gospel has brought me.	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 However, I did not want to do anything without your consent; it would have been forcing your act ofkindness, which should be spontaneous.	14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15 I suppose you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, merely so that you could have him backfor ever,	15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
16 no longer as a slave, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especial y dear to me,but how much more to you, both on the natural plane and in the Lord.	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 So if you grant me any fel owship with yourself, welcome him as you would me;	17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18 if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, put it down to my account.	18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
19 I am writing this in my own hand: I, Paul, shal pay it back -- I make no mention of a further debt, thatyou owe your very self to me!	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 Wel then, brother, I am counting on you, in the Lord; set my heart at rest, in Christ.	20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 I am writing with complete confidence in your compliance, sure that you wil do even more than I ask.	21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22 There is another thing: wil you get a place ready for me to stay in? I am hoping through your prayersto be restored to you.	22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23 Epaphras, a prisoner with me in Christ Jesus, sends his greetings;	23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 so do my fellow-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke.	24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.	25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.