Philemon 1:11

Philemon 1:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
• New International Version (NIV)Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)
• New King James Version (NKJV)who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

Context of Philemon 1:11

9yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner [for the sake] of Christ Jesus— 10I appeal to you for my [own spiritual] child Onesimus, whom I have fathered [in the faith] while a captive in these chains. Once he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you as well as to me. 12I have sent him back to you in person, that is, like sending my very heart. 13I would have chosen to keep him with me, so that he might minister to me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel;

Philemon 1:11 word by word

τόν ποτέ σοι ἄχρηστον νυνὶ δὲ καὶ σοὶ καὶ ἐμοὶ εὔχρηστον,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• in time pastποτέpote · once/whenG4218
• to theeσύsu · youG4771
• unprofitableἄχρηστοςachrēstos · uselessG890
• butδέde · thenG1161
• nowνυνίnuni · nowG3570
• profitableεὔχρηστοςeuchrēstos · helpfulG2173
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• to meἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for Philemon 1:11

• Job 30:1“But now those younger than I mock and laugh at me, Whose fathers I refused to put with the sheepdogs of my flock.
• Matthew 25:30And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].
• Luke 17:10So you too, when you have done everything that was assigned and commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants [undeserving of praise or a reward, for we have not gone beyond our obligation]; we have merely done what we ought to do.’ ”
• Romans 3:12All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
• 1 Peter 2:10Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
• Luke 15:24for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ So they began to celebrate.
• 2 Timothy 4:11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very helpful to me for the ministry.

Commentaries on Philemon 1:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Was to thee unprofitable - Alluding to the meaning of Onesimus's name, as has been already noted; though the apostle uses a different Greek word to express the same idea.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable - Either because he was indolent; because he had wronged him (compare the notes at Philemon 1:18), or because he had run away from him. It is possible that there may be an allusion here to the meaning of the name “Onesimus,” which denotes “profitable” (from ̓́ oninēmifuture ̓́ onēsōto be useful, to be profitable, to help), and that Paul means to say that he had hitherto not well answered to the meaning of his…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 It does not lower any one to condescend, and sometimes even to beseech, where, in strictness of right, we might command: the apostle argues from love, rather than authority, in behalf of one converted through his means; and this was Onesimus. In allusion to that name, which signifies "profitable," the apostle allows that in time past he had been unprofitable to Philemon, but hastens to mention the change by which he had become profitable…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11Onesimus means “useful.” Formerly he was useless, but now he has become useful: This might be a play on words (compare 1:20). Onesimus was now serving others and sharing the good news about Jesus. At last he had become what his name means.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. Which ... was ... unprofitable--belying his name Onesimus, which means "profitable." Not only was he "unprofitable," but positively injurious, having "wronged" his master. Paul uses a mild expression. now profitable--Without godliness a man has no station. Profitable in spiritual, as well as in temporal things.Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Philemon, Epistle to
• Yoke-Fellow

Commentaries on Philemon 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings