CHAPTER ONE: 1 Greeting from our brother Timothy and from Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ. Our close buddy and co-worker Philemon. 2 Additionally, to our sister Apphia, Archippus, who is a fellow soldier in the army of the Lord, and the church that gathers in your home. 3 From the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father, grace, and peace be upon you. 4 I keep you in my thoughts and prayers. And I will always be grateful to God for you. 5 I am grateful to God because I have heard of your love for all of God's holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the faith you share will help you grasp every blessing we have in Christ. 7 My brother, you have loved God's people, and your assistance has tremendously boosted their morale. What an enormous source of happiness and inspiration that has been for me. 8 There is something you should do. I feel free to order you to do it because of the power I have in Christ. 9 However, I am not demanding you; rather, I am requesting that you do it out of love. As a prisoner of Christ Jesus, I, Paul, am an elderly man at this time. 10 I'm requesting your assistance for my son Onesimus. While I was behind bars, he became my son. 11 He was previously ineffective to you. However, he is now helpful to both you and me. 12 I'm returning him to you, yet it's as painful as losing a piece of myself. 13 I'd prefer to keep him here to assist me while I'm still in jail for spreading the Gospel. He would be representing you by aiding me in this. 14 I didn't want to, however, take any action without first consulting you. So anything you do for me will come from your own desire, not from something I made you do. 15 For a little period of time, Onesimus was separated from you. Perhaps things occurred so that you might have him back in your life forever—16 not as a slave, but as a beloved brother who is better than a slave. That is exactly what he is to me. And I'm confident that he will have much more significance for you since he is both your slave and a fellow follower of the Lord. 17 Accept Onesimus back if you accept me as your friend. As you would welcome me, do the same for him. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charges it to me. 19 I, Paul, write this in my own handwriting, saying, "I will repay whatever Onesimus owes." And I'm not going to tell you what you owe me for your own life. 20Therefore, as a Christian, I humbly ask you, my brother, to do me the favor of doing this.  It would be a tremendous encouragement to me as your brother in Christ. 21 I write this letter knowing that you will accomplish everything I ask of you, and then more. 22 In addition, get a room ready for me. I pray that God would hear your prayers and grant me the opportunity to see you. 23 Epaphras is a prisoner with me for the sake of Christ Jesus. He extends his best wishes to you. 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke also extend their greetings. They and I both work together.  25 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.