| 章 |
| 1:1 |
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker,
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| 1:2 |
to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
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| 1:3 |
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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| 1:4 |
When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God
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| 1:5 |
because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.
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| 1:6 |
I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ.
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| 1:7 |
I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
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| 1:8 |
For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty,
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| 1:9 |
yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love-- and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
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| 1:10 |
I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.
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| 1:11 |
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me.
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| 1:12 |
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
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| 1:13 |
I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel;
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| 1:14 |
but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.
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| 1:15 |
Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever,
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| 1:16 |
no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother-- especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
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| 1:17 |
So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.
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| 1:18 |
If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.
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| 1:19 |
I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self.
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| 1:20 |
Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.
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| 1:21 |
Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
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| 1:22 |
One thing more-- prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.
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| 1:23 |
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,
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| 1:24 |
and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
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| 1:25 |
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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