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- Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, and our brother Timotheus, vnto Philemon our deare friende, and fellowe helper,
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- And to our deare sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellowe souldier, and to the Church that is in thine house:
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- Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.
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- I giue thanks to my God, making mention alwaies of thee in my praiers,
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- (When I heare of thy loue & faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Iesus, and towarde all Saintes)
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- That the fellowship of thy faith may bee made effectuall, and that whatsoeuer good thing is in you through Christ Iesus, may be knowen.
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- For we haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because by thee, brother, the Saintes bowels are comforted.
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- Wherefore, though I bee very bolde in Christ to commaunde thee that which is conuenient,
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- Yet for loues sake I rather beseeche thee, though I be as I am, euen Paul aged, and euen nowe a prisoner for Iesus Christ.
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- I beseeche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bondes,
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- Which in times past was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable both to thee and to me,
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- Whome I haue sent againe: thou therefore receiue him, that is mine owne bowels,
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- Whom I woulde haue reteined with mee, that in thy steade he might haue ministred vnto me in the bondes of the Gospel.
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- But without thy minde woulde I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly.
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- It may be that he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receiue him for euer,
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- Not now as a seruant, but aboue a seruant, euen as a brother beloued, specially to me: howe much more then vnto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord?
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- If therefore thou count our thinges common, receiue him as my selfe.
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- If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on mine accounts.
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- I Paul haue written this with mine owne hande: I will recompense it, albeit I doe not say to thee, that thou owest moreouer vnto me euen thine owne selfe.
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- Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lorde: comfort my bowels in the Lorde.
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- Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt do eue more then I say.
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- Moreouer also prepare mee lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall be freely giuen vnto you.
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- There salute thee Epaphras my felowe prisoner in Christ Iesus,
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- Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my felowe helpers.
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- The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen.
Written from Rome to Philemon, and sent by Onesimus a seruant.
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