Therefore having enough boldness
in Christ
to command you to do the right thing,
because of love,
I would rather beseech you,
– such as I am, Paul, an old man
and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus-
I beseech you concerning my child,
whom I have begotten during (my) imprisonment:
Onesimus, (Useful)
who formerly was useless to you,
but now is useful to you and me,
whom I have sent back to you,
and he is my very heart.
whom I wanted to keep with me,
so that he might serve me,
in my imprisonment for the Gospel,
in your place.
For
I wanted to do nothing,
without your consent
so that your good (deed) might not be from compulsion
but from free will.
For perhaps he was separated from you, for this reason, for a while –
that you might have him back – for good!
No longer as a slave,
but more than a slave –
a beloved brother,
-especially to me,
– and how much more to you
both ‘humanly’ and in the Lord.
So if consider me as a partner
welcome him as me.
And if he has wronged you in any way
or owes you anything,
charge it to me.
I, Paul, write (this),
with my own hand:
I will repay it.
– not to mention to you,
that you owe more – yourself – to me.
Yes, brother,
let me have some benefit from you,
in the Lord.
Refresh my heart in Christ!
Having been convinced of your ‘compliance’,
I have written to you,
knowing that you will do more than I ask.
One thing more, prepare the guest-room for me.
For I hope
that through your prayers,
I will be restored to you all.
Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner, greets you.
in Christ.
and Mark, Aristarchus. Demas, Luke,
my fellow-workers.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
be with with your spirit.
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.