Christian Graces; Final Greetings

4 Masters,^(A) give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Christian Graces

^2 (B)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it ^(C)with thanksgiving; ^3 (D)meanwhile praying also for us, that God would ^(E)open to us a door for the word, to speak ^(F)the ^[a]mystery of Christ, ^(G)for which I am also in chains, ⁴ that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

^5 (H)Walk in ^(I)wisdom toward those who are outside, ^(J)redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be ^(K)with grace, ^(L)seasoned with salt, ^(M)that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Final Greetings^(N)

^7 (O)Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ^8 (P)I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that ^[b]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, ⁹ with ^(Q)Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

^10 (R)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with ^(S)Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

^12 (T)Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always ^(U)laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand ^(V)perfect and ^[c]complete in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has a great ^[d]zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. ^14 (W)Luke the beloved physician and ^(X)Demas greet you. ¹⁵ Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and ^[e]Nymphas and ^(Y)the church that is in ^[f]his house.

Closing Exhortations and Blessing

¹⁶ Now when ^(Z)this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to ^(AA)Archippus, “Take heed to ^(AB)the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

^18 (AC)This salutation by my own hand—Paul. ^(AD)Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Greeting

¹ Paul, a ^(A)prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, ² to ^[a]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 ^[b]you in Christ Jesus. ⁷ For we ^[c]have great ^[d]joy and ^[e]consolation in your love, because the ^[f]hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

The 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 ^[g]back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own ^[h]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.

Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged

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.

Farewell

^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.