4. I always thank my God when I remember you in my prayers.
5. That's because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus. I hear about your love for all of God's people.
6. I pray that you will be active in sharing what you believe. Then you will completely understand every good thing we have in Christ.
7. Your love has given me great joy. It has cheered me up. My brother, you have renewed the hearts of God's people.
8. Because of the authority Christ has given me, I could be bold. I could order you to do what you should do anyway.
9. But I make my appeal to you on the basis of our love for each other. I, Paul, am an old man. I am now also a prisoner because of Christ Jesus.
10. I make an appeal to you for my son Onesimus. He became a son to me while I was being held by chains.
11. Before that, he was useless to you. But now he has become useful to you and to me.
12. I'm sending Onesimus back to you. My very heart goes with him.
13. I would have liked to keep him with me. Then he could have taken your place in helping me while I'm being held by chains because of the good news.
14. But I didn't want to do anything unless you agreed. Any favor you do must be done because you want to do it, not because you have to.
15. Onesimus was separated from you for a little while. Maybe that was so you could have him back for good.
16. You could have him back not as a slave. Instead, he would be better than a slave. He would be a dear brother. He is very dear to me. But he is even more dear to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.