Letters to the Churches

This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless.

Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition,

knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.

As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.

Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they will have everything they need.

And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.

All who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.

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

to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:

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

I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers,

because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.

I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,

I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.

Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.

I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—

no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.

So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.