| | Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer,
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| 2. | And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
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| 3. | Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ.
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| 4. | I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,
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| 5. | Hearing of your love and faith, which you have toward the LORD Jesus, and toward all saints;
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| 6. | That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
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| 7. | For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by you, brother.
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| 8. | Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to enjoin you with that which is convenient,
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| 9. | Yet for love's sake I rather beseech you, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
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| 10. | I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds,
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| 11. | Which in times past was to you unprofitable, but now profitable to you and to me,
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| 12. | Whom I have sent again. You therefore receive him, that is, my own bowels,
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| 13. | Whom I would have retained with me, that in your stead he might have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel.
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| 14. | But without your mind I would do nothing; that your benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
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| 15. | For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that you should receive him forever;
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| 16. | Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh, and in the LORD?
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| 17. | If you therefore count me as a partner, receive him as myself.
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| 18. | If he has wronged you, or owes you anything, put that on my account;
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| 19. | I, Paul, have written it with my own hand: I will repay it, although I do not say to you how you owe me, even your own self besides.
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| 20. | Yea, brother, let me have joy of you in the LORD. Refresh my bowels in the LORD.
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| 21. | Having confidence in your obedience I wrote to you, knowing that you will also do more than I say.
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| 22. | But also prepare me a lodging, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given to you.
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| 23. | Salute Epaphras there, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
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| 24. | Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow labourers.
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| 25. | The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ is with your spirit. Amen.
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