| Chapter 1 |
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Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon the beloved and our fellow-workman, |
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and to the sister Apphia and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the assembly which is in thine house. |
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Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
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I thank my God, always making mention of thee at my prayers, |
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hearing of thy love and the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and towards all the saints, |
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in such sort that thy participation in the faith should become operative in the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in us towards Christ Jesus. |
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For we have great thankfulness and encouragement through thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. |
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Wherefore having much boldness in Christ to enjoin thee what is fitting, |
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for love`s sake I rather exhort, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also prisoner of Jesus Christ. |
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I exhort thee for *my* child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus, |
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once unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable to thee and to me: |
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whom I have sent back to thee: but do *thou* receive him, that is, *my* bowels: |
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whom *I* was desirous of keeping with myself, that for thee he might minister to me in the bonds of the glad tidings; |
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but I have wished to do nothing without thy mind, that thy good might not be as of necessity but of willingness: |
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for perhaps for this reason he has been separated from thee for a time, that thou mightest possess him fully for ever; |
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not any longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, specially to me, and how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord? |
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If therefore thou holdest me to be a partner with thee, receive him as me; |
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but if he have wronged thee anything or owe anything to thee, put this to my account. |
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*I* Paul have written it with mine own hand; *I* will repay it: that I say not to thee that thou owest even thine own self also to me. |
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Yea, brother, *I* would have profit of *thee* in the Lord: refresh my bowels in Christ. |
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Being confident of thine obedience, I have written to thee, knowing that thou wilt do even more than I say. |
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But withal prepare me also a lodging; for I hope that I shall be granted to you through your prayers. |
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Epaphras salutes thee, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus; |
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Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workmen. |
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. |