8. Because of this, I have enough confidence in Christ Jesus to command you concerning certain things,
9. but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10. I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus.
11. In times past, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to me and to you.
12. So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart.
13. I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel.
14. But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.