1. Paul's appreciation of Philemon

1
 Paul, a prisoner^a of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,^b To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker^c — ²also to Apphia our sister and Archippus^d our fellow soldier^e —and to the church that meets in your home:^f
 3Grace and peace to you^a from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

 ⁴I always thank my God^g as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵because I hear about your love for all his holy people^h and your faith in the Lord Jesus. ⁶I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,ⁱ because you, brother, have refreshed^j the hearts of the Lord’s people.

2. Paul's appeal for Onesimus

 ⁸Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner^k of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰that I appeal to you for my son^l Onesimus,^{a m} who became my son while I was in chains. ¹¹Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
 ¹²I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. ¹⁴But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forcedⁿ but would be voluntary. ¹⁵Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother.^o He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
 ¹⁷So if you consider me a partner,^p welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. ¹⁹I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh^q my heart in Christ. ²¹Confident^r of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
 ²²And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be^s restored to you in answer to your prayers.^t
 23Epaphras,^u my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. ²⁴And so do Mark,^v Aristarchus,^w Demas^x and Luke, my fellow workers.
 ²⁵The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^y