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Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy the brother, to Philemon our beloved and co-workman,
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and to the beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the congregation at thy 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, making recollection of thee always in my prayers,
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hearing of thy love and faith, which thou have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the sanctified,
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so that the fellowship of thy faith may become potent (in the knowledge of every good thing in us) for Christ Jesus.
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For we have much joy and encouragement in thy love, because the bowels of the sanctified have been refreshed by thee, brother.
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Therefore, though I have much boldness in Christ to command thee that which is befitting,
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because of love I rather beseech, being such as aged Paul, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
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I beseech thee for my child Onesimus, whom I begot in my bonds.
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A man formerly unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me, whom I sent back.
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And thou should welcome him, that is, my bowels.
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Whom I wanted to keep back for myself, so that in thy behalf he might serve me in the bonds of the good news.
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But I wanted to do nothing without thy mind, so that thy goodness might not be as from obligation, but from volition.
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For perhaps because of this he departed for an hour, so that thou might receive him back forever,
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no longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to thee, both in flesh and in the Lord.
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If then thou have me a partner, accept him as myself.
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But if he has wronged thee, or owes anything, charge this to me.
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I Paul write with my hand, I will repay, so that I may not say to thee that thou owe me in return even thyself.
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Yes, brother, let me have a favor of thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.
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Being confident in thine obedience I wrote to thee, knowing that thou will do above what I say.
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But simultaneously also prepare a lodging for me, for I hope that by your prayers I will be granted to you.
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Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, salutes thee,
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and Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my co-workmen.
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with your spirit. Truly.