1. From Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and from Timothy, our brother.To Philemon, our dear friend and worker with us;
2. to Apphia, our sister; to Archippus, a worker with us; and to the church that meets in your home.
3. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. I remember you in my prayers. And I always thank my God for you.
5. I hear about the love you have for all God’s holy people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus.
6. I pray that the faith you share will make you understand every blessing that we have in Christ.
7. My brother, you have shown love to God’s people. You have made them feel happy. This has given me great joy and comfort.
8. There is something that you should do. And because of your love in Christ, I feel free to order you to do it.
9. But because I love you, I am asking you instead. I, Paul, am an old man now, and a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
10. I am asking you a favor for my son Onesimus. He became my son while I was in prison.
11. In the past he was useless to you. But now he has become useful for both you and me.
12. I am sending him back to you, and with him I am sending my own heart.
13. I wanted to keep him with me to help me while I am in prison for the Good News. By helping me he would be serving you.
14. But I did not want to do anything without asking you first. Then any favor you do for me will be because you want to do it, not because I forced you to do it.
15. Onesimus was separated from you for a short time. Maybe that happened so that you could have him back forever—
16. not to be a slave, but better than a slave, to be a loved brother. I love him very much. But you will love him even more. You will love him as a man and as a brother in the Lord.