Parallel
Philemon 1
Berean Standard Bible · Westminster Leningrad Codex
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
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to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your (note: You and Your are singular throughout this letter, except in verses 3, 22, and 25.) house:
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I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
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I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
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I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
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I appeal to you for my child Onesimus (note: Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20).), whose father I became while I was in chains.
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I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
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But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.
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For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—
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no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.
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I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
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Yes, brother, let me have some benefit (note: Greek onaimēn, a play on the name Onesimus) from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
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In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
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