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NOVEMBER 4
I will keep Your statutes. every good thing which is in you in Christ Je-
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146 I cry out to You; sus. For we have great joy and consolation in
Save me, and I will keep Your your love, because the hearts of the saints have
testimonies. been refreshed by you, brother.
147 I rise before the dawning of the 8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in
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morning, Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for
And cry for help; love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such
I hope in Your word. a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a pris-
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148 My eyes are awake through the night oner of Jesus Christ— I appeal to you for my
watches, son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in
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That I may meditate on Your word. my chains, who once was unprofitable to you,
149 Hear my voice according to Your but now is profitable to you and to me.
lovingkindness; 12 I am sending him back. You therefore
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O LORD, revive me according to Your receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I
justice. wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he
150 They draw near who follow after might minister to me in my chains for the
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wickedness; gospel. But without your consent I wanted to
They are far from Your law. do nothing, that your good deed might not be by
151 You are near, O LORD, compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.
And all Your commandments are truth. 15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this
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152 Concerning Your testimonies, purpose, that you might receive him forever, no
I have known of old that You have longer as a slave but more than a slave—a
founded them forever. beloved brother, especially to me but how much
more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Proverbs 28:11
The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
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But the poor who has understanding
searches him out.
16 more than a slave—a beloved brother.
Philemon 1–25 Paul did not call for Onesimus’s freedom (1 Cor.
7:20–22), but that Philemon would receive his
aul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timo- slave now as a fellow believer in Christ (Eph.6:9;
Pthy our brother,
Col. 4:1; 1 Tim. 6:2). Christianity never sought to
To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow abolish slavery,but rather to make the relation-
laborer, to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our ships within it just and kind.in the flesh. In this
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fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: physical life (Phil. 1:22), as they worked togeth-
er. in the Lord. The master and slave were to
Grace to you and peace from God our Father enjoy spiritual oneness and fellowship as they
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and the Lord Jesus Christ. worshiped and ministered together.
I thank my God, making mention of you
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always in my prayers, hearing of your love and
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faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and 17 If then you count me as a partner, receive
toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith him as you would me. But if he has wronged
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may become effective by the acknowledgment of you or owes anything, put that on my account.
19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will
repay—not to mention to you that you owe me
even your own self besides. Yes, brother, let
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me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my
1 prisoner of Christ Jesus. At the time of
writing, Paul was a prisoner in Rome. Paul was heart in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in your obedience, I
imprisoned for the sake of and by the sover-
eign will of Christ (Eph. 3:1; 4:1; 6:19,20; Phil. write to you, knowing that you will do even
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1:13; Col. 4:3). By beginning with his imprison- more than I say. But, meanwhile, also prepare
ment and not his apostolic authority, Paul a guest room for me, for I trust that through
made this letter a gentle and singular appeal your prayers I shall be granted to you.
to a friend. A reminder of Paul’s severe hard- 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Je-
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ships was bound to influence Philemon’s will- sus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus,
ingness to do the comparatively easy task Paul Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.
was about to request. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit. Amen.
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