[continued from previous message]   
      
   2 (Lk 18:1; Eph 6:18) Continue in prayer, and be watchful with thanksgiving,   
   3 (Eph 6:19-20; Ac 14:27) while praying also for us, that God would open   
   to us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am   
   also in chains,   
   4 (Eph 6:20) that I may reveal it clearly, as I ought to speak.   
   5 (Mk 4:11; Eph 5:15-17) Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside,   
   wisely using the opportunity.   
   6 (Mk 9:50; 1Pe 3:15) Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned   
   with salt, that you may know how you should answer everyone.   
      
   [2] Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;   
   [3] Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of   
   utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:   
   [4] That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.   
   [5] Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.   
   [6] Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may   
   know how ye ought to answer every man.   
      
   Final Greetings   
      
   7 (Ac 20:4; Col 4:9) Tychicus, who is a beloved brother and a faithful   
   minister and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.   
   8 (Eph 6:22; Col 2:2) I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that he   
   might know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,   
   9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.   
   They will make known to you everything which is happening here.   
   10 (Ac 19:29; 27:2) Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark,   
   the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received instructions:   
   If he comes to you, receive him),   
   11 (Ac 11:2) and Jesus, who is called Justus. These are my only fellow   
   workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision.   
   They have been a comfort to me.   
   12 (Ro 15:30; Col 1:7) Epaphras greets you. He is one of you, a servant   
   of Christ, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may   
   stand mature and complete in the entire will of God.   
   13 (Col 2:1) I bear witness of him, that he has a great zeal for you,   
   those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.   
   14 (Phm 1:24; 2Ti 4:10-11) Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.   
   15 (Ro 16:5) Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nympha,   
   and the church which is in his house.   
   16 (1Th 5:27; 2Th 3:14) When this epistle is read among you, ensure that it is   
   read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you, likewise,   
   read the epistle from Laodicea.   
   17 (Phm 1:2) Tell Archippus, "Make sure that you fulfill the ministry   
   which you have received in the Lord."   
   18 (1Co 16:21; 1Ti 6:21) I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.   
   Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.   
      
   [7] All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother,   
   and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:   
   [8] Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your   
   estate, and comfort your hearts;   
   [9] With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They   
   shall make known unto you all things which are done here.   
   [10] Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to   
   Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you,   
   receive him;)   
   [11] And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These   
   only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort   
   unto me.   
   [12] Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always   
   labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and   
   complete in all the will of God.   
   [13] For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that   
   are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.   
   [14] Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.   
   [15] Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church   
   which is in his house.   
   [16] And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in   
   the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from   
   Laodicea.   
   [17] And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast   
   received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.   
   [18] The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with   
   you. Amen.   
      
   Philemon   
      
   The epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon was written in Rome   
   in about AD 62. This story is about a servant named Onesimus   
   who ran away from Philemon, a Christian of Colosse. Onesimus had departed   
   from Philemon and fled to Rome, where he then became converted   
   under Paul's ministry. Paul sent him back to Philemon with this letter   
   to reconcile their broken relationship, since they were both in Christ.   
   The letter about Onesimus was included in the canon, in the opinion of some,   
   due to the authenticity of its authorship. Paul's political astuteness   
   and personal interaction with the recipient make this letter both warm   
   and compelling. It is truly a heartfelt plea from one Christian to another.   
      
   Salutation   
      
   Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,   
      
   1 To Philemon, our beloved fellow laborer,   
   2 and to beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow soldier,   
   and to the church in your house:   
   3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.   
      
   [1] Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon   
   our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,   
   [2] And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the   
   church in thy house:   
   [3] Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.   
      
   Philemon's Love and Faith   
      
   4 I thank my God, always mentioning you in my prayers,   
   5 whenever I hear of your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus   
   and for all the saints,   
   6 that the sharing of your faith may be most effective by the acknowledgment   
   of every good thing which is in you from Christ Jesus.   
   7 For we have great joy and encouragement on account of your love,   
   because the hearts of the saints are refreshed through you, brother.   
      
   [4] I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,   
   [5] Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus,   
   and toward all saints;   
   [6] That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the   
   acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.   
   [7] For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of   
   the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.   
      
   Paul Pleads for Onesimus   
      
   8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you   
   to do that which is proper,   
   9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you-I, Paul, an old man,   
   and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ-   
   10 I appeal to you on behalf of my son Onesimus, whose father I have become   
   in my imprisonment,   
   11 who in the past was unprofitable to you,   
   but now he is profitable to you and to me.   
   12 I have sent him back. Therefore receive him as my own heart.   
   13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in your place he might serve me   
   during my imprisonment for the gospel.   
   14 But without your consent I would do nothing, so that your goodness   
   would not be forced, but given willingly.   
   15 Perhaps this was why he departed for a while,   
   that you might receive him forever,   
   16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother,   
   especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh   
   and in the Lord.   
   17 If then you consider me a partner, receive him as you would me.   
   18 If he wronged you or owes you anything, charge this to my account.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)