Philemon 7-17

Christian Standard Bible

⁷ For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed^(A) through you, brother.

An Appeal for Onesimus

⁸ For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, ⁹ I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man^[a] and now also as a prisoner^(B) of Christ Jesus, ¹⁰ appeal to you for my son,^(C) Onesimus.^[b](D) I became his father^(E) 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—I am sending my very own heart.^{[c][d] 13} I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. ¹⁴ But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. ¹⁵ For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh^(F) and in the Lord.^(G)

¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome^(H) him as you would me.