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

9But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. 10I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. 13I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf.

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 I am mocked by people younger than I, by young men whose fathers are not worthy to run with my sheepdogs.
• Matthew 25:30Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
• Luke 17:10In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”
• Romans 3:12All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”
• 1 Peter 2:10“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
• Luke 15:24for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
• 2 Timothy 4:11Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my 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