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Philemon 1

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Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

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And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

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Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

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Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

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That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

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For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

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Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

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Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

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I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

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Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

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Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

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Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

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But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

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For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

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Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

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If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

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If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

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I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

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Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

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Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

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But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

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There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

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Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.

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Philemon 1:10

“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:”

Study Summary

I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment — Onesimus is Paul's teknon (child), spiritual offspring born through Paul's ministry while imprisoned. The relational reversal is poignant: Onesimus becomes kin to Paul precisely through estrangement from Philemon. The phrase father I have become (egenēthē) marks a second birth — from slavery and alienation to spiritual legitimacy. Paul's imprisonment becomes generative; his bonds produce new life in Onesimus.

Community Reflections

1
Elena Petrova (Test User)1d ago
The cost of discipleship — Philemon 1

It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Faith isn't the absence of doubt — it's choosing to believe despite it.. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. God is faithful in every circumstance.. There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. God is faithful in every…

Read the note →
1
Adam Smith 2 (test user)7h ago
God's sovereignty revealed — Philemon 1

The Hebrew word used here carries a richness that English can't fully capture. God is faithful in every circumstance.. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. Today it speaks comfort; a year ago it spoke conviction.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have immediately understood…

Read the note →
1
Aisha Mbeki (Test User)7h ago
Understanding grace — Philemon 1

God is faithful in every circumstance.. Faith isn't the absence of doubt — it's choosing to believe despite it.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. What a reminder that God's ways are not our ways. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting.. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. What a…

Read the note →

Philemon 1:10

“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:”

Study Summary

I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment — Onesimus is Paul's teknon (child), spiritual offspring born through Paul's ministry while imprisoned. The relational reversal is poignant: Onesimus becomes kin to Paul precisely through estrangement from Philemon. The phrase father I have become (egenēthē) marks a second birth — from slavery and alienation to spiritual legitimacy. Paul's imprisonment becomes generative; his bonds produce new life in Onesimus.

Community Reflections

1
Elena Petrova (Test User)1d ago
The cost of discipleship — Philemon 1

It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Faith isn't the absence of doubt — it's choosing to believe despite it.. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. God is faithful in every circumstance.. There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. God is faithful in every…

Read the note →
1
Adam Smith 2 (test user)7h ago
God's sovereignty revealed — Philemon 1

The Hebrew word used here carries a richness that English can't fully capture. God is faithful in every circumstance.. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. Today it speaks comfort; a year ago it spoke conviction.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have immediately understood…

Read the note →
1
Aisha Mbeki (Test User)7h ago
Understanding grace — Philemon 1

God is faithful in every circumstance.. Faith isn't the absence of doubt — it's choosing to believe despite it.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. What a reminder that God's ways are not our ways. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting.. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. What a…

Read the note →

Philemon 1:10

I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment — Onesimus is Paul's teknon (child), spiritual offspring born through Paul's ministry while imprisoned. The relational reversal is poignant: Onesimus becomes kin to Paul precisely through estrangement from Philemon. The phrase father I have become (egenēthē) marks a second birth — from slavery and alienation to spiritual legitimacy. Paul's imprisonment becomes generative; his bonds produce new life in Onesimus.