4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,^(A) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

² Devote yourselves to prayer,^(B) being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door^(C) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery^(D) of Christ, for which I am in chains.^{(E) 4} Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise^(F) in the way you act toward outsiders;^(G) make the most of every opportunity.^{(H) 6} Let your conversation be always full of grace,^(I) seasoned with salt,^(J) so that you may know how to answer everyone.^(K)

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus^(L) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant^[a](M) in the Lord. ⁸ I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our^[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.^{(N) 9} He is coming with Onesimus,^(O) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.^(P) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus^(Q) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,^(R) the cousin of Barnabas.^(S) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) ¹¹ Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews^[c] among my co-workers^(T) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras,^(U) who is one of you^(V) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,^(W) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature^(X) and fully assured. ¹³ I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea^(Y) and Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Our dear friend Luke,^(Z) the doctor, and Demas^(AA) send greetings. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,^(AB) and to Nympha and the church in her house.^(AC)

¹⁶ After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read^(AD) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

¹⁷ Tell Archippus:^(AE) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”^(AF)

¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.^(AG) Remember^(AH) my chains.^(AI) Grace be with you.^(AJ)

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

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker^(D)— ² also to Apphia our sister and Archippus^(E) our fellow soldier^(F)—and to the church that meets in your home:^(G)

³ Grace and peace to you^[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(H)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

⁴ I always thank my God^(I) as I remember you in my prayers,^{(J) 5} because I hear about your love for all his holy people^(K) and your faith in the Lord Jesus.^{(L) 6} I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,^(M) because you, brother, have refreshed^(N) the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you^(O) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner^(P) of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son^(Q) Onesimus,^[b](R) who became my son while I was in chains.^{(S) 11} Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

¹² I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³ I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains^(T) for the gospel. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced^(U) but would be voluntary. ¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave,^(V) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.^(W) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner,^(X) welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.^{(Y) 19} I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.^(Z) I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰ I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh^(AA) my heart in Christ. ²¹ Confident^(AB) of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

²² And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be^(AC) restored to you in answer to your prayers.^(AD)

²³ Epaphras,^(AE) my fellow prisoner^(AF) in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. ²⁴ And so do Mark,^(AG) Aristarchus,^(AH) Demas^(AI) and Luke, my fellow workers.^(AJ)

²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^(AK)