Paulus, a prisoner of Anointed Jesus, and Timotheos the brother
To Filemon the beloved one and our coworker, and Apphia the sister, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly that is at your house.
Hello to you, and peace from Father God and our Lord, Anointed Jesus.
I always thank my God, making remembrance of you in my prayers, hearing of your love and trust (which you have toward Lord Jesus and for all the holy ones), so that the partnership of your trust would become working in recognition of every good thing for the Anointed One that is in us. For we have much joy and comfort about your love, because the deep feelings of the holy ones have been refreshed through you, O brother.
So, since I have much freedom of speech in the Anointed One to direct you about the appropriate things; rather I advise you on account of love, since I am such a person: as Paulus, an old man, but now also a prisoner of Anointed Jesus. I am advising you about my child, Onesimus, whom I fathered in bonds. He was once disadvantageous to you but now he is advantageous both to you and to me. I have sent him back to you, this one is my deep feelings.
I was wishing to hold him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in the bonds of the good message. But I wanted to do nothing without your opinion, so that your good thing would not be as according to necessity but according to choice.
For perhaps he was withdrawn for an hour on this account, so that you might receive him for an age, no longer as a slave but above a slave--a beloved brother--especially to me. Now how much more rather to you, both physically and in the Lord!
Therefore, if you have me as a partner, receive him as you would receive me. But if he has done some injustice to you, or is indebted, record this to me. I, Paulus, wrote this with my hand. I will will pay it off, so that I am not telling you that you owe me even yourself. Yes brother, may I profit from you in the Lord. Refresh my deep feelings in the Anointed One.
I am writing to you, persuaded of your listening, knowing that you will do even over what I am saying. Now at the same time also, prepare a place of lodging for me. For I hope that I will be freely given to you through your prayers.
Epafras, my fellow captive in Anointed Jesus, greets you. Markus, Aristarchus, Daemas, Lukas--my coworkers--greet you. The favor of Lord Anointed Jesus be with your spirit.
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