Philemon 1-25.
Philemon 1-25 (GNT)
1 "From Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, and from our
brother Timothy— To our friend and fellow worker Philemon, 2 and the
church that meets in your house, and our sister Apphia, and our fellow
soldier Archippus: 3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give
you grace and peace. 4 Brother Philemon, every time I pray, I mention
you and give thanks to my God. 5 For I hear of your love for all of
God's people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. 6 My prayer is
that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper
understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union
with Christ. 7 Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and
much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God's
people. 8 For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in
Christ, to order you to do what should be done. 9 But because I love
you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the
ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his
sake. 10 So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my
own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual
father. 11 At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful
both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you now, and with
him goes my heart. 13 I would like to keep him here with me, while I
am in prison for the gospel's sake, so that he could help me in your
place. 14 However, I do not want to force you to help me; rather, I
would like for you to do it of your own free will. So I will not do
anything unless you agree. 15 It may be that Onesimus was away from
you for a short time so that you might have him back for all time. 16
And now he is not just a slave, but much more than a slave: he is a
dear brother in Christ. How much he means to me! And how much more he
will mean to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord! 17 So,
if you think of me as your partner, welcome him back just as you would
welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything,
charge it to my account. 19 Here, I will write this with my own hand:
I, Paul, will pay you back (I should not have to remind you, of
course, that you owe your very self to me.) 20 So, my brother, please
do me this favor for the Lord's sake; as a brother in Christ, cheer me
up! 21 I am sure, as I write this, that you will do what I ask—in fact
I know that you will do even more. 22 At the same time, get a room
ready for me, because I hope that God will answer the prayers of all
of you and give me back to you. 23 Epaphras, who is in prison with me
for the sake of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, 24 and so do my
co-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke. 25 May the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ be with you all."
Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days
later you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into
my heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
God bless you.
1 "From Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, and from our
brother Timothy— To our friend and fellow worker Philemon, 2 and the
church that meets in your house, and our sister Apphia, and our fellow
soldier Archippus: 3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give
you grace and peace. 4 Brother Philemon, every time I pray, I mention
you and give thanks to my God. 5 For I hear of your love for all of
God's people and the faith you have in the Lord Jesus. 6 My prayer is
that our fellowship with you as believers will bring about a deeper
understanding of every blessing which we have in our life in union
with Christ. 7 Your love, dear brother, has brought me great joy and
much encouragement! You have cheered the hearts of all of God's
people. 8 For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in
Christ, to order you to do what should be done. 9 But because I love
you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the
ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his
sake. 10 So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my
own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual
father. 11 At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful
both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you now, and with
him goes my heart. 13 I would like to keep him here with me, while I
am in prison for the gospel's sake, so that he could help me in your
place. 14 However, I do not want to force you to help me; rather, I
would like for you to do it of your own free will. So I will not do
anything unless you agree. 15 It may be that Onesimus was away from
you for a short time so that you might have him back for all time. 16
And now he is not just a slave, but much more than a slave: he is a
dear brother in Christ. How much he means to me! And how much more he
will mean to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord! 17 So,
if you think of me as your partner, welcome him back just as you would
welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything,
charge it to my account. 19 Here, I will write this with my own hand:
I, Paul, will pay you back (I should not have to remind you, of
course, that you owe your very self to me.) 20 So, my brother, please
do me this favor for the Lord's sake; as a brother in Christ, cheer me
up! 21 I am sure, as I write this, that you will do what I ask—in fact
I know that you will do even more. 22 At the same time, get a room
ready for me, because I hope that God will answer the prayers of all
of you and give me back to you. 23 Epaphras, who is in prison with me
for the sake of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, 24 and so do my
co-workers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke. 25 May the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ be with you all."
Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days
later you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into
my heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
God bless you.
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