Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me.

For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,

I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.

no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.

who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.

I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,