{"book": "Philemon","chapters":[{"chapter":"1","verses":[{"1":"Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,"},{"2":"To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:"},{"3":"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."},{"4":"I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,"},{"5":"because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints."},{"6":"I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ."},{"7":"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints."},{"8":"Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,"},{"9":"yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--"},{"10":"I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains."},{"11":"Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me."},{"12":"I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you."},{"13":"I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel."},{"14":"But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced."},{"15":"Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good--"},{"16":"no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord."},{"17":"So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me."},{"18":"If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me."},{"19":"I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to mention that you owe me your very self."},{"20":"I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ."},{"21":"Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask."},{"22":"And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers."},{"23":"Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings."},{"24":"And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers."},{"25":"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."}]}]}