Every post in Philemon, in order. Tap a post for the whole conversation, or the book icon for the verses.
Letter from Paul. He’s in prison, and Timothy’s name is on it too. It’s addressed to me, and to the church that meets at my house.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:
Philemon, every time I pray I thank God for you. I keep hearing about your love and your faith. Brother, you’ve refreshed the hearts of God’s people, and it’s given me so much joy.
I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
I could order you to do the right thing. I’d rather ask, because of love. So this is me asking. Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus. It’s about my son, Onesimus. He became my son while I’ve been in chains.
So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper, I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well. I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.
I was Philemon’s slave. We were apart for a while. While Paul was in chains, I came to faith through him. He calls me his son.
Onesimus@onesimusGoing home.I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains. For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.
Before, he was useless to you. Now he’s useful. To you, and to me.
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
Replying to @paul
My name literally means useful. He knows exactly what he’s doing.
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
I’m sending him back to you, and that’s sending my own heart. I’d have liked to keep him here, to help me in your place while I’m in chains for the good news. But I didn’t want to do anything without your say-so. A kindness should be your choice, not something forced.
I am sending back to you him who is my very heart. I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.
Maybe this is why he was parted from you for a while: so you could have him back for good. Not as a slave any more. Better than a slave. A dear brother. He is to me, and even more to you.
For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.
So if you count me as a partner, welcome him the way you’d welcome me. If he’s wronged you, or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I’ll pay it back. Not to mention that you owe me your very self.
So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Replying to @paul
That bit’s in Paul’s own handwriting. He means it.
I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
I’m writing because I’m confident you’ll do what I ask. More, actually.
Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
One more thing: get a guest room ready for me. I’m hoping God will answer your prayers and give me back to you.
In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.