(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)
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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
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I give thanks to my God, always making mention of you in my prayers,
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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;
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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.
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