God's New Revelations

The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 1 -

(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)
1
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,
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and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in your house:
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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

Philemon’s Faith and Love

4
I give thanks to my God, always making mention of you in my prayers,
5
hearing of your love and faith that you have to the Lord Jesus and toward all the holy ones,
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that the fellowship of your faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward Christ Jesus;
7
for we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the yearnings of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, brother.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

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For this reason, having in Christ much boldness to command you that which is fit—
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because of the love I rather plead, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;
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I beg you concerning my child—whom I begot in my bonds—Onesimus,
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who once was to you unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to you,
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whom I sent again to you—he who is my own heart,
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whom I intended to retain to myself, that in your behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,
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but apart from your mind I willed to do nothing, so that your good deed may not be as of necessity, but of willingness,
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for perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, that you may have him continuously,
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no longer as a servant, but above a servant—a beloved brother, especially to me, and how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the LORD!
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If, then, you have fellowship with me, receive him as me,
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and if he did hurt to you, or owes anything, charge this to me;
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I, Paul, wrote with my hand, I will repay; besides, that I may not say that you also owe to me yourself.
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Yes, brother, may I have profit of you in the LORD; refresh my yearnings in the LORD;
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I wrote to you having been confident in your obedience, having known that you will also do above what I may say;
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and at the same time also prepare for me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be granted to you.

Additional Greetings

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Epaphras greets you (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus),
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Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-workmen!
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit! Amen.
Copyright © 2020 Covenant Press and the CCC - licensed under CC BY-SA
(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)
1
Paul, a prisoner of Christ (a) Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
2
to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
3
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Faith and Love

4
I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
5
hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
6
that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
7
For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

8
Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
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yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,(b)
11
who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
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I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
13
whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
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But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
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For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever,
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no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
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If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
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But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account.
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I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).
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Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
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Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
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Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Additional Greetings

23
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
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as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.
(b)1:10 Onesimus means “useful”.
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