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Greetings from Paul and Timothy

(1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2)

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,² to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Faith and Love

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

⁸ So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,⁹ I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.¹⁰ I appeal to you for my child Onesimus^(a), whose father I became while I was in chains.¹¹ Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.¹² I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.¹³ I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.¹⁵ For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.¹⁸ But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account.¹⁹ I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.²¹ Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.²² In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers, I will be restored to you.

Additional Greetings