Philemon 1

Greeting

1 Paul, a a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer,
2 to 1 the beloved Apphia, b Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

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

Philemon's Love and Faith

4 c I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 d hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective e by the acknowledgment of f every good thing which is in 2 you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we 3 have great 4 joy and 5 consolation in your love, because the 6 hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

Paul's Plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you - being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ - 10 I appeal to you for my son g Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. 12 I am sending him 7 back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own 8 heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, h that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave - a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the i flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own j hand. I will repay - not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 k Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for l I trust that m through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

Final Greetings

23 n Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do o Mark, p Aristarchus, q Demas, r Luke, my fellow laborers.

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

  1. Cross References
    Ephesians 3:1
    For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles -
  2. Cross References
    Colossians 4:17
    And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.
  3. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:16
    Do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
    1 Thessalonians 1:2
    We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.
    2 Thessalonians 1:3
    We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.
  4. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:15
    Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
    Colossians 1:4
    Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints.
    1 Thessalonians 3:6
    But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you -
  5. Cross References
    Philippians 1:9
    And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.
    Colossians 1:9
    For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
    Colossians 3:10
    And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.
    James 2:14 - 17
    What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
  6. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 5:18
    In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
  7. Cross References
    Colossians 4:9
    With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.
  8. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 9:7
    So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
    1 Peter 5:2
    Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.
  9. Cross References
    Ephesians 6:5
    Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ.
    Colossians 3:22
    Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.
  10. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 16:21
    The salutation with my own hand - Paul's.
    Galatians 6:11
    See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
    2 Thessalonians 3:17
    The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.
  11. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 7:16
    Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.
  12. Cross References
    Philippians 1:25
    And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith.
    Philippians 2:24
    But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
  13. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:11
    You also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
  14. Cross References
    Colossians 1:7
    As you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf.
    Colossians 4:12
    Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
  15. Cross References
    Acts 12:12
    So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.
    Acts 12:25
    And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
    Acts 15:37 - 39
    Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.
    Colossians 4:10
    Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him).
  16. Cross References
    Acts 19:29
    So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travel companions.
    Acts 27:2
    So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.
    Colossians 4:10
    Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him).
  17. Cross References
    Colossians 4:14
    Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
    2 Timothy 4:10
    For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica - Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
  18. Cross References
    2 Timothy 4:11
    Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
  19. Cross References
    2 Timothy 4:22
    The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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