Study Desk

Our people must learn to use their lives for doing good and helping anyone who has a need. Then they will not have empty lives.

Greetings from Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ, and from Timothy, our brother. To Philemon, our dear friend and worker with us.

I remember you in my prayers. And I always thank my God for you.

I thank God because I hear about the love you have for all of God's holy people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus.

But I am not commanding you; I am asking you to do it out of love. I, Paul, am an old man now, and I am a prisoner for Christ Jesus.

I am asking you for my son Onesimus. He became my son while I was in prison.

In the past he was useless to you. But now he has become useful for both you and me.

I would like to keep him here to help me while I am still in prison for telling the Good News. By helping me here, he would be representing you.

But I did not want to do anything without asking you first. Then whatever you do for me will be what you want to do, not what I forced you to do.

Onesimus was separated from you for a short time. Maybe that happened so that you could have him back forever,

I, Paul, am writing this in my own handwriting: I will pay back anything Onesimus owes. And I will say nothing about what you owe me for your own life.

So, my brother, as a follower of the Lord please do this favor for me. It would be such a great encouragement to me as your brother in Christ.

Also, please prepare a room for me. I hope that God will answer your prayers and that I will be able to come and see you.

Epaphras is a prisoner with me for Christ Jesus. He sends you his greetings.

But this is what he said about his Son: "God, your kingdom will last forever and ever. You use your authority for justice.

The teaching that God spoke through angels was shown to be true. And every time his people did something against that teaching, they were punished for what they did. They were punished when they did not obey that teaching.

For a short time you made him lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.

For a short time Jesus was made lower than the angels, but now we see him wearing a crown of glory and honor because he suffered and died. Because of God's grace, Jesus died for everyone.

God—the one who made all things and for whose glory all things exist—wanted many people to be his children and share his glory. So he did what he needed to do. He made perfect the one who leads those people to salvation. He made Jesus a perfect Savior through his suffering.

For this reason, Jesus had to be made like us, his brothers and sisters, in every way. He became like people so that he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then he could bring forgiveness for the people's sins.