9. I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love – I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus –
10. I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,
11. who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.
12. I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you.
13. I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.
14. However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.
15. For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,
16. no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.