The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 'It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,' but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. 'Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. 'You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'* But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you. 'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,* and hate your enemy.*' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.

Christian Portal

Christian Resources

Vote!


	The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

Back to Holy Bible Index

^1:1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker, ^1:2and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house: ^1:3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ^1:4I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers, ^1:5hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; ^1:6that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ. ^1:7For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother. ^1:8Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting, ^1:9yet for love's sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus: ^1:10I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus, ^1:11who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me: ^1:12whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart: ^1:13whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel: ^1:14but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will. ^1:15For perhaps he was therefore parted from thee for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever; ^1:16no 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. ^1:17If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself. ^1:18But if he hath wronged the at all, or oweth thee aught, put that to mine account; ^1:19I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides. ^1:20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ. ^1:21Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say. ^1:22But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you. ^1:23Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee; ^1:24and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers. ^1:25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Back to Holy Bible Index