{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/erv/philemon/1","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-06-10T00:30:18.857Z"},"reference":{"translation":"ERV","book":"Philemon","bookSlug":"philemon","chapter":1,"testament":"NEW"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":null,"nextChapter":null,"totalChapters":1,"totalVerses":25},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,"},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:"},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers,"},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;"},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,"},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"yet for love's sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:"},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,"},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"who was aforetime unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:"},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:"},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:"},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever;"},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself."},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"But if he hath wronged thee at all, or oweth thee aught, put that to mine account;"},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee how that thou owest to me even thine own self besides."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say."},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you."},{"verseNumber":23,"text":"Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;"},{"verseNumber":24,"text":"and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers."},{"verseNumber":25,"text":"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."}],"citation":{"inline":"Philemon 1 (ERV)","markdown":"[Philemon 1](https://primebible.com/erv/philemon/1)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* ERV. https://primebible.com/erv/philemon/1 (accessed 2026-06-10)."}}