Letters to the Churches

Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:

but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse;

knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.

When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, give diligence to come unto me to Nicopolis: for there I have determined to winter.

Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.

And let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

All that are with me salute thee. Salute them that love us in faith. Grace be with you all.

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,

and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:

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

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

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

that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.

For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,

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

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

who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:

whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.

For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever;

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.

If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.