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Philemon
1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy, To Philemon, our dear friend and fellow helper;
2 and to dear sister Apphia, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace be with you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God (making mention of you always in my prayers
5 when I hear of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints,
6 so that the fellowship of your faith may be made effective, and that whatever good thing is in you through Christ Jesus may be known).
7 For we have great joy and encouragement in your love because by you, brother, the saints’ hearts are comforted.
8 Therefore, though I am very bold in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
9 yet for love’s sake, rather, I exhort you (though I am as I am: old, and even now a prisoner for Jesus Christ)
10 I encourage you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment
11 (who in the past was unprofitable to you, but is now profitable to both you and me)
12 and whom I have sent again. Therefore, receive him who is my own heart,
13 whom I wanted to keep with me so that he might have ministered to me in your place in the bonds of the Gospel.
14 But I do not wish to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would not be out of necessity, but willingly.
15 Therefore, it may be that he departed for a season so that you would receive him forever
16 (no longer as a servant, but above a servant, as a beloved brother), especially to me but how much more to you, both in th