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PHILEMON
1
Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ, and our brother Timotheus, vnto Philemon our
deare friende, and fellowe helper,
2 And to our deare sister Apphia, and to Archippus our fellowe souldier, and to
the Church that is in thine house:
3 Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus
Christ.
4 I giue thanks to my God, making mention alwaies of thee in my praiers,
5 (When I heare of thy loue & faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Iesus,
and towarde all Saintes)
6 That the fellowship of thy faith may bee made effectuall, and that whatsoeuer
good thing is in you through Christ Iesus, may be knowen.
7 For we haue great ioy and consolation in thy loue, because by thee, brother,
the Saintes bowels are comforted.
8 Wherefore, though I bee very bolde in Christ to commaunde thee that which is
conuenient,
9 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.
10 I beseeche thee for my sonne Onesimus, whome I haue begotten in my bondes,
11 Which in times past was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable both to
thee and to me,
12 Whome I haue sent againe: thou therefore receiue him, that is mine owne
bowels,
13 Whom I woulde haue reteined with mee, that in thy steade he might haue
ministred vnto me in the bondes of the Gospel.
14 But without thy minde woulde I doe nothing, that thy benefite should not be
as it were of necessitie, but willingly.
15 It may be that he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest
receiue him for euer,
16 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?
17 If therefore thou count our thinges common, receiue him as my selfe.
18 If he hath hurt thee, or oweth thee ought, that put on mine accounts.
19 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.
20 Yea, brother, let mee obteine this pleasure of thee in the Lorde: comfort my
bowels in the Lorde.
21 Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote vnto thee, knowing that thou wilt do eue
more then I say.
22 Moreouer also prepare mee lodging: for I trust through your prayers I shall
be freely giuen vnto you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras my felowe prisoner in Christ Iesus,
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my felowe helpers.
25 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen. Written from
Rome to Philemon, and sent by Onesimus a seruant.
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