Chapter 1

  Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timotheus the brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,  

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  and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in thy house:  

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

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  I give thanks to my God, always making mention of thee in my prayers,  

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  hearing of thy love and faith that thou hast unto the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,  

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  that the fellowship of thy faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that [is] in you toward Christ Jesus;  

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  for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.  

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  Wherefore, having in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit --  

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  because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;  

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  I entreat thee concerning my child -- whom I did beget in my bonds -- Onesimus,  

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  who once was to thee unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to thee,  

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  whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,  

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  whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,  

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  and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,  

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  for perhaps because of this he did depart for an hour, that age-duringly thou mayest have him,  

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  no more as a servant, but above a servant -- a brother beloved, especially to me, and how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord!  

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  If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me,  

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  and if he did hurt to thee, or doth owe anything, this to me be reckoning;  

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  I, Paul did write with my hand, I -- I will repay; that I may not say that also thyself, besides, to me thou dost owe.  

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  Yes, brother, may I have profit of thee in the Lord; refresh my bowels in the Lord;  

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  having been confident in thy obedience I did write to thee, having known that also above what I may say thou wilt do;  

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  and at the same time also prepare for me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.  

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  Salute thee doth Epaphras, (my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus,)  

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  Markus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lukas, my fellow-workmen!  

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  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit! Amen.  

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