God’s Word Translation
Philemon 1:11
11Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful to both of us.
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
9However, I would prefer to make an appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, 10appeal to you for my child Onesimus [Useful]. I became his spiritual father here in prison. Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12I am sending him back to you. This is like sending you a part of myself. 13I wanted to keep him here with me. Then he could have served me in your place while I am in prison for spreading the Good News.
Read all of Philemon 1Philemon 1:11 word by word
τόν ποτέ σοι ἄχρηστον νυνὶ δὲ καὶ σοὶ καὶ ἐμοὶ εὔχρηστον,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Philemon 1:11
- Job 30:1“But now those who are younger than I am laugh at me. I didn’t think their fathers were fit to sit with the dogs of my flock.
- Matthew 25:30Throw this useless servant outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.’
- Luke 17:10That’s the way it is with you. When you’ve done everything you’re ordered to do, say, ‘We’re worthless servants. We’ve only done our duty.’ ”
- Romans 3:12Everyone has turned away. Together they have become rotten to the core. No one does anything good, not even one person.
- 1 Peter 2:10Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.
- Luke 15:24My son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
- 2 Timothy 4:11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. He is useful to me in my work.
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
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries