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 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.

Context of Philemon 1:14

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. 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. 15It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. 16He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a 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 1:8That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.
• 2 Corinthians 1:24But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.
• 1 Peter 5:3Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.
• 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.
• Psalms 110:3When you go to war, your people will serve you willingly. You are arrayed in holy garments, and your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew.
• 1 Corinthians 9:7What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk?
• 2 Corinthians 8:12Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
• 2 Corinthians 9:5So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.
• 1 Peter 5:2Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

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