{i1:1} Salutation
{1:1} From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer,
{1:2} to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house.
{1:3} Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! 
{i1:4} Thanks for Philemon’s Love and Faith
{1:4} I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
{1:5} because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
{1:6} I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.
{1:7} I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. 
{i1:8} Paul’s Request for Onesimus
{1:8} So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,
{1:9} I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love — I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus—
{1:10} I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,
{1:11} who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.
{1:12} I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you.
{1:13} I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.
{1:14} However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.
{1:15} For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,
{1:16} no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.
{1:17} Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.
{1:18} Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me.
{1:19} I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self.
{1:20} Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
{1:21} Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do.
{1:22} At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you. 
{i1:23} Concluding Greetings
{1:23} Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.
{1:24} Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too.
{1:25} May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.