10 I appeal to you for my son (A)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 [a]back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own [b]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, (B)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 (C)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 (D)hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.

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Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:12 NU back to you in person, that is, my own heart,
  2. Philemon 1:12 See v. 7.

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

10 I (A)appeal to you for my (B)[a]son [b](C)Onesimus, whom I [c]fathered in my [d]imprisonment, 11 who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. 12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, 13 whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my [e](D)imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would (E)not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps it was (F)for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, 16 (G)no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, (H)a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both (I)in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you regard me as a (J)partner, accept him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19 (K)I, Paul, have written this with my own hand, I will repay it ((L)not to [f]mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).

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Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:10 Or child
  2. Philemon 1:10 I.e., useful
  3. Philemon 1:10 I.e., led to the Lord
  4. Philemon 1:10 Lit bonds
  5. Philemon 1:13 Lit bonds
  6. Philemon 1:19 Lit say

A Plea for Onesimus to be Freed

10 I appeal to you for my [own spiritual] child Onesimus, whom I have fathered [in the faith] while a captive in these chains. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is indeed [a]useful to you as well as to me. 12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, like sending my very heart. 13 I would have chosen to keep him with me, so that he might minister to me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I did not want to do anything without first getting your consent, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. 15 Perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, so that you would have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave, but [as someone] more than a slave, as a brother [in Christ], especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh [as a servant] and in the Lord [as a fellow believer].(A)

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome and accept him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19 I, Paul, write this with my [b]own hand, I will repay it in full (not to mention to you that you [c]owe to me even your own self as well).

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Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:11 Paul makes a play on words here because Onesimus means “useful” or “profitable.”
  2. Philemon 1:19 By writing this with his own hand, Paul accepted legal liability.
  3. Philemon 1:19 Philemon evidently was saved through Paul’s ministry and therefore owed Paul a debt that could not be repaid.

10 that I appeal to you for my son(A) Onesimus,[a](B) who became my son while I was in chains.(C) 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(D) 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(E) 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,(F) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.(G) 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,(H) welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.(I) 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.(J) I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

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Footnotes

  1. Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

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