Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, and to Apphia. The sister and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house. For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the Saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
-Intercession for Onesimus
For love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus, who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. I am sending him back. I desired to keep with me, but I was willing to do nothing without your consent.
No longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother
both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it.
Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you. Prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits!