(Philippians 1:1–2; Colossians 1:1–2)
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Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, and our brother Timotheus, vnto Philemon our deare friende, and fellowe helper,
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And to our deare sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellowe souldier, and to the Church that is in thine house:
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Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ.
Philemon’s Faith and Love
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I giue thanks to my God, making mention alwaies of thee in my praiers,
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(When I heare of thy loue and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Iesus, and towarde all Saintes)
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That the fellowship of thy faith may bee made effectuall, and that whatsoeuer good thing is in you through Christ Iesus, may be knowen.
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For we haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because by thee, brother, the Saintes bowels are comforted.
Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus
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Wherefore, though I bee very bolde in Christ to commaund thee that which is conuenient,
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Yet for loues sake I rather beseeche thee, though I be as I am, euen Paul aged, and euen nowe a prisoner for Iesus Christ.
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I beseeche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bondes,
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Which in times past was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable both to thee and to me,
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Whome I haue sent againe: thou therefore receiue him, that is mine owne bowels,
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Whom I woulde haue reteined with mee, that in thy steade he might haue ministred vnto me in the bondes of the Gospel.
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But without thy minde woulde I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not be as it were of necessitie, but willingly.
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It may be that he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receiue him for euer,
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Not now as a seruant, but aboue a seruant, euen as a brother beloued, specially to me: howe much more then vnto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord?
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If therefore thou count our thinges common, receiue him as my selfe.
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If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on mine accounts.
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I Paul haue written this with mine owne hande: I will recompense it, albeit I doe not say to thee, that thou owest moreouer vnto me euen thine owne selfe.
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Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lord: comfort my bowels in the Lord.
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Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt do eue more then I say.
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Moreouer also prepare mee lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall be freely giuen vnto you.
Additional Greetings
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There salute thee Epaphras my felowe prisoner in Christ Iesus,
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Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my felowe helpers.
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The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, and send by Onesimus a seruant.