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¹ Howdy, amigos! This is from Paul, a cowboy for Jesus Christ who is gathering the lost and the strays by telling the good news to all folks. Timothy is here with me and says hello as well.

This letter is for Philemon, a cowboy for Christ, ² as well for Apphia and Archippus. It's also for all the cowboys and cowgirls who meet in your house to learn about riding for the Lord.

³ I pray God and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Saying Thanks

⁴ Philemon, I always thank God for you in my prayers. ⁵ Over and over I have heard about your faith in Jesus and your love for God's cowboys. ⁶ My prayer is that your faith will result in generosity that comes from understanding and seeing first hand all the great things we have in Jesus. ⁷ The love and comfort you've shown me has helped me and countless others.

Paul Asks a Favor for Onesimus

⁸ I write to you to ask you a favor. I could make a demand of you because it is the right thing to do in God's eyes, ⁹ but I'd rather show you the same kind of love you've shown me and just simply ask you. Consider it a simple request from a friend. I'm just an old friend who is out riding pastures and looking for strays for the sake of Christ.

¹⁰ I want you to give Onesimus a break. I have become like a father to him while locked up for my work. ¹¹ Onesimus has been of little value to you in the past, but now he has become something great for the both of us. ¹² I'm sending him back to you and my heart comes with him.

¹³ I really wanted to keep him here to help me while I'm locked up. Because he belongs to you, it would be as if you yourself were here helping me. ¹⁴ But I didn't ask you first so I'm sending him back. I really do want your help, but not if you didn't have a choice in the matter. ¹⁵ He was a slave who ran away, but now he's coming back as one of Jesus's cowboys. You lost him for a while, but now you're getting him back for good. ¹⁶ I don't want you to look at him like a slave anymore, but rather a brother like he is to me. You have not lost anything by this, but gained so much more because now you have a cowboy who rides for the Lord.

¹⁷ If you consider us pards, welcome him home just like you would me. ¹⁸ If he has a debt to you, charge me for it. ¹⁹ I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will assume all of his debt. I won't even mention that you owe me much more for bringing you the word that saved your soul.

²⁰ This is the favor that I ask, brother. Do it for the Lord's sake. Don't let my heart be heavy in this matter.

²¹ As I write, I'm fully confident that you will do this and even more. ²² If I may be so bold as to ask for one more thing—make a room for me when I come visit. I'm hoping that your prayer for my visit will be answered very soon. I can't wait to see you, cowboy.

A Final Adios

²³ Epaphrus, a fellow cowboy in Christ, is here with me and says to tell you hello. ²⁴ Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke all send their regards as well.

²⁵ May you be filled with God's grace my friend. Adios.