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- Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
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- to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
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- Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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- I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
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- hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
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- that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
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- For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
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- Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
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- yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
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- I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus, {Onesimus means "useful."}
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- who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
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- I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
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- whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
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- But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
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- For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,
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- no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
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- If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
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- But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account.
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- I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).
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- Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
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- Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.
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- Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
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- Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,
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- as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
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- The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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