Philemon 1 - King James Version - American Edition

Salutation

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, Unto Phile´mon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer,

² and to our beloved Ap´phi-a, and Archip´pus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house:

³ Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon's Love and Faith

⁴ I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

⁵ hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

⁶ that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

⁷ For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Paul Pleads for Onesimus

⁸ Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

⁹ yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

¹⁰ I beseech thee for my son Ones´imus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

¹¹ which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

¹² whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

¹³ whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

¹⁴ but without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

¹⁵ For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

¹⁶ not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

¹⁷ If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

¹⁸ If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account;

¹⁹ I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

²⁰ Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

²¹ Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

²² But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

Final Greetings

²³ There salute thee Ep´aphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;

²⁴ Mark, Aristar´chus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

²⁵ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.