Letters to the Churches

Stedfast is the word; and concerning these things I counsel thee to affirm fully, that they may be thoughtful, to be leading in good works--who have believed God; these are the good and profitable things to men,

and foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about law, stand away from--for they are unprofitable and vain.

A sectarian man, after a first and second admonition be rejecting,

having known that he hath been subverted who is such, and doth sin, being self-condemned.

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

Zenas the lawyer and Apollos bring diligently on their way, that nothing to them may be lacking,

and let them learn--ours also--to be leading in good works to the necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.

Salute thee do all those with me; salute those loving us in faith; the grace is with you all!

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

and Apphia the beloved, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and the assembly in thy house:

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

I give thanks to my God, always making mention of thee in my prayers,

hearing of thy love and faith that thou hast unto the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

that the fellowship of thy faith may become working in the full knowledge of every good thing that is in you toward Christ Jesus;

for we have much joy and comfort in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.

Wherefore, having in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit--

because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

I entreat thee concerning my child--whom I did beget in my bonds--Onesimus,

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

whom I did send again, and thou him (that is, my own bowels) receive,

whom I did wish to retain to myself, that in thy behalf he might minister to me in the bonds of the good news,

and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,

for perhaps because of this he did depart for an hour, that age-duringly thou mayest have him,

no more as a servant, but above a servant--a brother beloved, especially to me, and how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord!

If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me,