Philemon 9-11

Expanded Bible

⁹ But because I love you, I am ·pleading with [appealing to; urging; encouraging] you instead. I, Paul, an old man now and also a prisoner [^Cin Rome, about ad 60; Acts 28:16–31; Phil. 1:7] for Christ Jesus, ¹⁰ am ·pleading with [appealing to; urging; encouraging] you for my child Onesimus, ·who became my child [^Lwhom I begat/fathered; ^CPaul evidently led Onesimus to Christ in Rome] while I was in prison. ¹¹ In the past he was ·useless [unprofitable; worthless] to you, but now he has become ·useful [helpful; valuable] for both you and me [^Ca play on words, since Onesimus means “useful” or “helpful”].