1Verse 1Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ,+and brother Timothy, to the beloved Philemon, our fellow worker,Verse 2and to the beloved+Apphia and our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the congregation at your (sg)+house:Verse 3Grace to you (pl) and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.
Paul commends Philemon
Verse 4I always thank my God as I make mention of you (sg) in my prayers,Verse 5hearing of your love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus, and for all the saints,Verse 6so that the sharing of your (sg) faith may become powerful through a full understanding of every good thing that is among you (pl) who are in Christ Jesus;+Verse 7yes, we have much thanksgiving+and encouragement because of your (sg) love, in that the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Paul intercedes for Onesimus
Verse 8Now then, though I have all boldness in Christ to order you (sg) to do what is right,+Verse 9I—being none other than Paul the old man and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ—would rather appeal to you, for love's sake.Verse 10I appeal to you on behalf of the son whom I begot while in my chains, Onesimus,+whom I am sending backVerse 11—formerly he was unprofitable to you, but now he is profitable, both to you and to me.Verse 12So receive+him, who is my very heartVerse 13—I would have liked to keep him with me, so that he might minister to me in your place, while I am in chains for the Gospel,Verse 14but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your contribution might be voluntary, not as an imposition.Verse 15Perhaps this is why he was removed+for a while, so that you would have him foreverVerse 16—no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, very much to me but even more to you, both in flesh and in the Lord.+
Paul asks for obedience
Verse 17So if you consider me a partner, receive him as if it were me.+Verse 18If he wronged you or owes anything, charge it to me.Verse 19I, Paul, am writing with my own hand, “I will repay” (rather than say to you that you actually owe me your very self!).+Verse 20Yes brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.+Verse 21Being confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you (sg) will do even more than I say.Verse 22But meanwhile, do prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your (pl) prayers I will be graciously bestowed on you (pl).+
Farewell
Verse 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner for Christ Jesus, greets you (sg),Verse 24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.+Verse 25The grace of our Lord Jesus+be with your (pl) spirit.+Amen.