The Gabriel Version

2 and to our dear Apphia, and to Archippus another associate, and to the assembly in your house.

3 May compassion be with you, and peace from Yehovah our Father, and from our Master Yeshua the Messiah.

4 I have always thanked Yehovah, and remembered you in my prayers, 5 from the first time that I heard of your conviction and your love for our Master Yeshua and for all of the faithful. 6 The sharing of your faith will become effective because of the precise knowledge of all the good things you have in Yeshua the Messiah. 7 We have great joy and consolation, because the love [1] of the faithful is refreshed by your love.

8 So I can have great freedom in the Messiah, appointing duties to you. 9 Yet for love’s sake, I’m earnestly pleading with you to carry on, even as I, Paul, an old man do, as you know, and now also a bondsman [2] for Yeshua the Messiah. 10 I appeal to you on behalf of my son Onesimus, who I have been like a father to while in chains. 11 I sent someone to you who used to be of no value to you, but now he will be very valuable to you and me.

12 Welcome him as if he were my son. 13 I wanted to keep him with me so that he could serve me instead of you, in these chains for the Good News. 14 But I wouldnt do this without consulting you, because I was afraid that his service would seem to be compulsory rather than voluntarily. 15 It is possible that he left you for a while, so that you could keep him indefinitely. 16 From now on he wont be a servant, but more than a servant, a dear Friend of mine, and much more to you, both in physical matters and in our Master?

17 So if you are in fellowship with me, receive him as one of mine. 18 If he has wronged you or owes you anything, charge it to my account. 19 I, Paul, have written this in my own handwriting, I’ll repay you, not to mention that you owe me your very selves. 20 Yes Friends, let me be of benefit to you in our Master. Refresh my love [1] in the Messiah. 21 I’m confident that you’ll listen to me. I wrote to you knowing that you’ll do even more than I ask.

22 So get a room ready for me to stay in, because I hope that due to your prayers, I’ll be there for you.

23 Epaphras, a fellow captive with me in Yeshua the Messiah, greets you, 24 and Mark and Aristarchus and Demas and Luke, my coworkers.

25 Friends, may the compassion of our Master Yeshua the Messiah be with you in spirit, Aw-mane’.