Philemon 1:1-9

1Paul, a prisoner [for the sake] of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), and our brother Timothy, To Philemon our dearly beloved friend and fellow worker,

2and to [your wife] Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier [in ministry], and to the church that meets in your house:

3Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5because I hear of your love and of your faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints (God’s people).

6I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ.

7For I have had great joy and comfort and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints (God’s people) have been refreshed through you, my brother.

8Therefore [on the basis of these facts], though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is appropriate,

9yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner [for the sake] of Christ Jesus—