Philemon 1:25 - Prayer Tents

1I, Paul, am a prisoner for the sake of Christ, here with my brother Timothy. I write this letter to you, Philemon, my good friend and companion in this work—G3972G1198G2424G5547G2532G5095G80G5371G2257G27G2532G49042also to our sister Apphia, to Archippus, a real trooper, and to the church that meets in your house.G2532G27G682G2532G751G2257G4961G2532G1577G2596G4675G36243God's best to you! Christ's blessings on you!G5485G5213G2532G1515G575G2316G2257G3962G2532G2962G2424G55474Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, "Oh, thank you, God!G2168G3450G2316G4160G3417G4675G3842G1909G3450G43355" I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other Christians.G191G4675G26G2532G4102G3739G2192G4314G2962G2424G2532G1519G3956G406And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it.G3704G2842G4675G4102G1096G1756G1722G1922G3956G18G3588G1722G5213G1519G5547G24247Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers.G1063G2192G4183G5485G2532G3874G1909G4675G26G3754G4698G40G373G1223G4675G80

To Call the Slave Your Friend

8In line with all this I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ's ambassador and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn't hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary,G1352G2192G4183G3954G1722G5547G2004G4671G4339but I'd rather make it a personal request.G1223G26G3870G3123G3870G5607G5108G5613G3972G4246G1161G3570G2532G1198G2424G554710While here in jail, I've fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter—Onesimus!G3870G4571G4012G1699G5043G3682G3739G1080G1722G3450G119911He was useless to you before; now he's useful to both of us.G3588G4218G890G4671G890G1161G3570G2173G4671G2532G169812I'm sending him back to you, but it feels like I'm cutting off my right arm in doing so.G3739G375G4771G1161G4355G846G5123G1699G469813I wanted in the worst way to keep him here as your stand-in to help out while I'm in jail for the Message.G3739G1473G1014G2722G4314G1683G2443G4675G5228G1247G3427G1722G1199G209814But I didn't want to do anything behind your back, make you do a good deed that you hadn't willingly agreed to.G1161G5565G4674G1106G2309G4160G3762G3363G4675G18G5600G3363G5600G5613G2596G318G235G1595G259615Maybe it's all for the best that you lost him for a while. You're getting him back now for good—G1063G1223G5029G5563G5124G5563G4314G5610G2443G568G846G16616and no mere slave this time, but a true Christian brother! That's what he was to me—he'll be even more than that to you.G3765G5613G1401G235G5228G1401G80G27G3122G1698G1161G4214G3123G4671G2532G1722G4561G2532G1722G296217So if you still consider me a comrade-in-arms, welcome him back as you would me.G1487G2192G1691G3767G2844G4355G846G5613G169118If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account.G1161G1487G91G4571G2228G3784G5100G1677G5124G1677G169819This is my personal signature—Paul—and I stand behind it. (I don't need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?)G1473G3972G1125G1699G5495G1473G661G3363G3004G3363G3004G4671G3754G4359G3427G2532G4572G435920Do me this big favor, friend. You'll be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good.G3483G80G3685G1473G3685G4675G1722G2962G373G3450G4698G1722G296221I know you well enough to know you will. You'll probably go far beyond what I've written.G3982G4675G5218G1125G4671G1492G3754G4160G2532G4160G3739G5228G300422And by the way, get a room ready for me. Because of your prayers, I fully expect to be your guest again.G1161G260G2090G3427G2532G3578G1063G1679G3754G1223G5216G4335G5483G521323Epaphras, my cellmate in the cause of Christ, says hello.G782G4571G1889G3450G4869G1722G5547G242424Also my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.G3138G708G1214G3065G3450G490425All the best to you from the Master, Jesus Christ!G5485G2257G2962G2424G5547G3326G5216G4151G281