I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I fathered in my imprisonment,
Parallel translations
- WEB I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,
- KJV I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
- BSB I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.
- NKJV I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains,
- NLT I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul finally names his request: he pleads for Onesimus, whom he led to faith while imprisoned. He calls this runaway slave his own spiritual child.
Overview
Onesimus was Philemon's runaway slave who encountered Paul in prison and was converted through him. Paul's tender language, "my child" begotten "in my chains," signals the transformation grace has worked. By withholding the name until after this affectionate introduction, Paul ensures Philemon hears of the new brother before he recalls the old offense, and the gospel that made Onesimus a son becomes the ground of the appeal.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Col 4:9together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.
- 1 Cor 4:15For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.
- 1 Tim 1:2to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Gal 4:19My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you —
- Titus 1:4to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
- 2 Sam 19:37–38Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.”
- 2 Sam 18:5The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom.” All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.
- 2 Sam 9:1–7David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
- Mark 9:17One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The plea to receive a runaway slave as a beloved brother, charging his debt to Paul's account, is a living picture of how Christ receives us and pays what we owe.
How Philemon 1:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.