Philemon 1:8-16

8For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right,

9I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus,

10appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I became his father while I was in chains.

11Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

12I am sending him back to you — I am sending my very own heart.

13I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place.

14But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will.

15For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently,

16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave — as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.