Paul's Letter 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!


	Paul's Letter to Philemon

Back to Holy Bible Index

{1:1} Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, {1:2} to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: {1:3} Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

{1:4} I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, {1:5} hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; {1:6} that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. {1:7} For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

{1:8} Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, {1:9} yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. {1:10} I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,[1] {1:11} who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. {1:12} I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, {1:13} whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. {1:14} But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. {1:15} For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, {1:16} no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

{1:17} If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. {1:18} But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account. {1:19} I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides). {1:20} Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord. {1:21} Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

{1:22} Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

{1:23} Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, {1:24} as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. {1:25} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Footnotes:

[1] {1:10} Onesimus means "useful."

Back to Holy Bible Index

Source: The World English Bible