CHAP. I.

4 Hee reioyceth to heare of the faith and loue of Philemon, 9 Whom he desireth to forgiue his seruant Onesimus, and louingly to receiue him againe.

¹ Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, & Timothie our brother vnto Philemon our dearely beloued, and fellow labourer,

² And to our beloued Apphia, and Archippus our fellow Souldier, and to the Church in thy house.

³ Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ.

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⁴ I thanke my God, making mention of thee alwayes in my prayers,

⁵ Hearing of thy loue, and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Iesus, and toward all Saints:

⁶ That the communication of thy faith may become effectuall by the acknowledging of euery good thing, which is in you in Christ Iesus.

⁷ For wee haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because the bowels of the Saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

⁸ Wherefore, though I might bee much bolde in Christ to enioyne thee that which is conuenient;

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⁹ Yet for loues sake I rather beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Iesus Christ.

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¹⁰ I beseech thee for my sonne Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bonds,

¹¹ Which in time past was to thee vnprofitable: but now profitable to thee and to me:

¹² Whom I haue sent againe: thou therfore receiue him, that is mine owne bowels.

¹³ Whome I would haue reteined with mee, that in thy stead hee might haue ministred vnto me in the bonds of the Gospel.

¹⁴ But without thy minde would I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not bee as it were of necessitie, but willingly.

¹⁵ For perhaps hee therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receiue him for euer:

¹⁶ Not now as a seruant, but aboue a seruant, a brother beloued, specially to mee, but how much more vnto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

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¹⁷ If thou count mee therefore a partner, receiue him as my selfe.

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¹⁸ If hee hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account.

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¹⁹ I Paul haue written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I doe not say to thee how thou owest vnto me, euen thine owne selfe besides:

²⁰ Yea, brother, let mee haue ioy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowles in the Lord.

²¹ Hauing confidence in thy obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt also doe more then I say.

²² But withall prepare mee also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be giuen vnto you.

²³ There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Iesus:

²⁴ Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow labourers.

²⁵ The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a seruant.