Philemon 1 (NMV)
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and coworker,
2 and to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier in the work of Christ, and to the church that meets in your home:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I always thank my God when I remember you in my prayers,
5 because I hear of your love and the faith you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all those who belong to Him and are set apart.
6 I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective through the recognition of every good thing that is in us in relation to Christ.
7 For I have received great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of those who belong to God and are set apart have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 So although I have full freedom in Christ to speak openly and command you to do what is right,
9 But instead, on the basis of love, I personally urge you: I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus,
10 I am asking you on behalf of my child, Onesimus. I became his spiritual father while I was in chains.
11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.
12 I am sending him back to you, he is someone I care for from the depths of my being. So receive him back with full acceptance and personal care.
13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me while I am in chains for the gospel.
14 But I didn't want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed would not be by force but voluntary.
15 Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever,
16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as if he were me.
18 And if he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.
19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it, not to mention that you owe me your very self [Philemon owed his faith in Christ to Paul].
20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
21 I am confident of your obedience, and I am writing to you knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22 Meanwhile, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings,
24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.