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Philemon 9-10
Contemporary English Version
Philemon 9-10
Contemporary English Version
9 But I would rather ask you to do it simply because of love. Yes, as someone[a] in jail for Christ, 10 (A) I beg you to help Onesimus![b] He is like a son to me because I led him to Christ here in jail.
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Philemon 9-10
New International Version
Philemon 9-10
New International Version
9 yet I prefer to appeal to you(A) on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner(B) of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son(C) Onesimus,[a](D) who became my son while I was in chains.(E)
Footnotes
- Philemon 1:10 Onesimus means useful.
Philemon 12-17
Contemporary English Version
Philemon 12-17
Contemporary English Version
12 Sending Onesimus back to you makes me very sad. 13 I would like to keep him here with me, where he could take your place in helping me while I am here in prison for preaching the good news. 14 But I won't do anything unless you agree to it first. I want your act of kindness to come from your heart, and not be something you feel forced to do.
15 Perhaps Onesimus was taken from you for a little while so you could have him back for good, 16 but not as a slave. Onesimus is much more than a slave. To me he is a dear friend, but to you he is even more, both as a person and as a follower of the Lord.
17 If you consider me a friend because of Christ, then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me.
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Philemon 12-17
New International Version
Philemon 12-17
New International Version
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(A) 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(B) 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,(C) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.(D) 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,(E) welcome him as you would welcome me.
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.