Philemon 1:1-9

1Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker

2and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,

5because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,

6and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

7For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

8Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,

9yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—