| ….Paul, a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to our beloved fellow-worker, Philemon, Apphia our sister, Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the church which gathers together at your house: Grace and peace to you, from God our father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
1-3 |
| ….I always give thanks to my God when I remember you in my prayers because I hear of the faith that you have towards the Lord Jesus Christ and your love to all the saints. I pray that your generosity, which stems from your faith, becomes effective in both your understanding and experiencing every blessing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have had much joy and comfort from your love, brother, because the saints’ hearts have been refreshed through you. | 4-7 |
| ….Therefore, although I have much boldness in Christ to command you to do what is required, I would much rather appeal to you on the grounds of such love. Though I, Paul, am an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus, I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose spiritual father I have become while in prison. He was useless to you previously, but he is now useful to both you and me. I have sent Onesimus, who is my very heart, back to you. I hoped to keep him for myself, so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel. However, I did not want to do anything apart from your consent, so that your good deed would not be out of necessity but of your own willingness. Perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a short time- so that you might have him back forever. No longer as a slave only but more than a slave, a beloved brother. He is especially so to me, and how much more to you now, both as a man and a Christian. | 8-16 |
| ….Therefore, if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. And, if he has wronged you in anyway, or if he owes you anything, charge it to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand- I will repay it- not to mention to you that you also owe me your very self. Yes, brother, I wish that I might have some benefit from you in the Lord; Refresh my heart in Christ. | 17-20 |
| ….Because I am confident of your obedience, I write to you knowing that you will do even more than what I have asked of you. At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that I will be given back to you through your prayers. | 21-22 |
| ….Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow-workers, also greet you. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit | 23-25 |
| Resources Used: |
| Colossians-Philemon, WBC, by Peter O’Brien Colossians and Philemon, TNTC, by N.T. Wright BDAG A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament by Max Zerwick NET Bible notes |
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