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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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 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 back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 15For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and 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, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting,
• 2 Corinthians 1:24Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.
• 1 Peter 5:3nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
• 1 Chronicles 29:17I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.
• Psalms 110:3Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.
• 1 Corinthians 9:7Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
• 2 Corinthians 8:12For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
• 2 Corinthians 9:5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
• 1 Peter 5:2Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

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