Philemon 1-21 (NRV)
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to
Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in
your house:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank
my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith
toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become
effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I
have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because
the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ
to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the
basis of love-- and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a
prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus,
whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was
useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am
sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him
with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my
imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your
consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not
something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you
for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 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 flesh and in the Lord.
So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as
you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you
anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my
own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your
own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord!
Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to
you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
May you, the reader, Be blessed by these words :)
Terry
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