CHAPTER 1
to Apphia
our
sister,
to Archippus
our
fellow soldier,
and
to the
church
that meets at
your
house:
I pray that
your
partnership
in the
faith
may become
effective
as
you fully acknowledge
every
good thing
that is
ours
in
Christ.
I take
great
joy
and
encouragement
in
your
love,
because
you,
brother,
have refreshed
the
hearts
of the
saints.
I prefer to appeal
on the basis of
love.
For
I,
Paul,
am
now
aged,
and
a prisoner
of Christ
Jesus
as well.
I
would have liked
to keep
him
with
me,
so that
on your behalf
he could minister to
me
in
my
chains
for the
gospel.
But
I did not want
to do
anything
without
your
consent,
so that
your
goodness
will not be
out of
compulsion,
but
by
your own free will.
For
perhaps
this is why
he was separated from you
for
a while,
so that
you might have him back
for good—
no longer
as
a slave,
but
better than
a slave,
as a beloved
brother.
He is especially beloved
to me,
but
even more so
to you,
both
in
person
and
in
the Lord.
I,
Paul,
write this
with
my own
hand.
I
will repay it—
not
to
mention
that
you owe
me
your very self.
In the meantime,
prepare
a guest room
for me,
because
I hope
that
through
your
prayers,
I will be restored
to you.