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^(A) for the gospel. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced^(B) but would be voluntary. ¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave,^(C) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.^(D) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.