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- Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,
- to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
- Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
- because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
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- Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,
- and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
- Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
- because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;
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- I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
- Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
- Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
- yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--
- I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
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- and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake.
- For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
- Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,
- yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you--since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--
- I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,
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- Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
- I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you.
- I 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.
- But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
- Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good--
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- who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.
- I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,
- whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;
- but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.
- For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,
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- no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
- So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
- If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
- I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to mention that you owe me your very self.
- I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
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- no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
- If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.
- But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;
- I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).
- Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
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- Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
- And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
- Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.
- And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
- The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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- Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.
- At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.
- Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
- as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.
- The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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