1. Sha’ul, a prisoner of Messiah יהושע, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved one and fellow worker,
2. and Apphia our sister, and Archippos our fellow soldier, and the assembly at your house:
3. Favour to you and peace from Elohim our Father and the Master יהושע Messiah.
4. I always thank my Elohim when I mention you in my prayers,
5. hearing of your love and the belief which you have toward the Master יהושע and toward all the set-apart ones,
6. so that the sharing of your belief might become working in the knowledge of all the good which is in you toward Messiah יהושע.
7. For we have much joy and encouragement in your love, because the tender affections of the set-apart ones have been refreshed by you, brother.
8. Therefore, although I have much boldness in Messiah to command you what is fitting,
9. because of love, I rather appeal – being such a one as Sha’ul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of יהושע Messiah –
10. I appeal to you for my child Onesimos, whom I brought forth while in my chains,
11. who formerly was of no use to you, but now is of good use to you and to me,
12. whom I sent back to you, and receive him, that is, my own tender affections,
13. whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
14. But without your opinion I wished to do none at all, so that your good deed should not be by way of necessity, but voluntary.