I pray<n id="1" /> that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing<n id="2" /> that belongs to you<n id="3" /> in Christ.<n id="4" />

who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you<n id="1" /> and me.

However,<n id="1" /> without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.

Mark, Aristarchus,<n id="1" /> Demas<n id="2" /> and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too.

<t /><p class="bodytext">From Paul,<n id="1" /> a prisoner of Christ Jesus,<n id="2" /> and Timothy our<n id="3" /> brother, to Philemon, our dear friend<n id="4" /> and colaborer,

because I hear<n id="1" /> of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love<n id="2" /> for all the saints.<n id="3" />

I<n id="1" /> have had great joy and encouragement because<n id="2" /> of your love, for the hearts<n id="3" /> of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,

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,<n id="1" />

Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Epaphras,<n id="1" /> my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you.

no longer as a slave,<n id="1" /> 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<n id="2" /> and in the Lord.

Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than<n id="1" /> what I am asking you to do.