Philemon 1:14

Philemon 1:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
• English Standard Version (ESV)but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.
• New Living Translation (NLT)But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.

Context of Philemon 1:14

12I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

Philemon 1:14 word by word

χωρὶς δὲ τῆς σῆς γνώμης οὐδὲν ἠθέλησα ποιῆσαι, ἵνα μὴ ὡς κατὰ ἀνάγκην τὸ ἀγαθόν σου ᾖ ἀλλὰ κατὰ ἑκούσιον.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·κατάkata · according toG2596
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• withoutχωρίςchōris · withoutG5565
• thyσόςsos · yourG4674
• mindγνώμηgnōmē · resolutionG1106
• would Iθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• benefitἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• shouldεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notμήmē · notG3361
• as it wereὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• necessityἀνάγκηanagkē · necessityG318
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• willinglyἑκούσιοςhekousion · voluntaryG1595

Cross-references for Philemon 1:14

• Philemon 1:8Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,
• 2 Corinthians 1:24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
• 1 Peter 5:3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
• 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
• Psalms 110:3Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.
• 1 Corinthians 9:7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk?
• 2 Corinthians 8:12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
• 2 Corinthians 9:5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
• 1 Peter 5:2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

Commentaries on Philemon 1:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14That thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity - If the apostle had kept Onesimus in his service, and written to Philemon to forgive him and permit him to stay, to this it is probable he would have agreed; but the benefit thus conceded might have lost much of its real worth by the consideration that, had he been at Colosse, Philemon would not have sent him to Rome; but, being there and in the apostle's service, he could not with propriety order…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14But without thy mind would I do nothing - Nothing in the matter referred to. He would not retain Onesimus in his service, much as he needed his assistance, without the cordial consent of Philemon. He would not give him occasion for hard feeling or complaint, as if Paul had induced him to leave his master, or as if he persuaded him to remain with him when he wished to return - or as if he kept him away from him when he owed him or had wronged him. All that…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. 13-14Paul suggests that he wants Philemon to decide to free Onesimus so he can help Paul (also 1:21). The Christian life is a voluntary response to God's grace (Romans 12:1; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 3:12–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. without thy mind--that is, consent. should not be as--"should not appear as a matter of necessity, but of free will." Had Paul kept Onesimus, however willing to gratify Paul Philemon might be, he would have no opportunity given him of showing he was so, his leave not having been asked.Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Benefit

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