Philemon 14-16

New International Reader's Version

¹⁴ But I didn’t want to do anything unless you agreed. Any favor you do must be done because you want to do it, not because you have to. ¹⁵ Onesimus was separated from you for a little while. Maybe that was so you could have him back forever. ¹⁶ You could have him back not as a slave. Instead, he would be better than a slave. He would be a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even more dear to you. He is dear to you not only as another human being. He is also dear to you as a brother in the Lord.