Philemon 1:11

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

American Standard Version (1901)

who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

Bible in Basic English

Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me:

Douay-Rheims 1899

Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,

Free Bible Version

In the past he was of no use to you, but now he's useful to both you and me!

Geneva Bible 1599

Which in times past was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable both to thee and to me,

King James (Authorized) Version

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

Plain English Version

You see, he used to work for you some time ago, but he didn’t help you. But now he can help both of us, you and me.

Translation for Translators

Although his name, as you know, means ‘useful’, formerly he was useless to you. But now he is useful both to you and to me!

Unlocked Literal Bible

For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

Noah Webster Bible

Who in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

World English Bible

who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

Young's Literal Translation

who once was to thee unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to thee,

Context

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

¹⁰I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.¹¹Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.¹²I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.

Summary

In this verse, Paul is writing to Philemon about Onesimus, a runaway slave who has become a believer in Christ. Paul encourages Philemon to receive Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a beloved brother in Christ. This demonstrates the transformative power of the Gospel, which breaks down social barriers and unites believers as equals in the family of God. Paul's appeal to Philemon is a call to practice forgiveness, reconciliation, and love, reflecting the grace and mercy that God has shown to all believers.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Was 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.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable,.... Yea, injurious and hurtful; one that was an eye servant, that loitered away his time, and set an ill example to fellow servants; and not only so, but embezzled his master's goods, and robbed him, and run away from him. So every man, in his state of unregeneracy, is an unprofitable man, Rom 3:12 unprofitable to God, to men, and to themselves; their sins will not profit them, though they may promise them liberty and pleasure; nor will their riches, should they lose their own souls: nor their own righteousness, in the business of justification and salvation; nor even an outward profession of religion: yea, they are not only said to be unprofitable, but are represented as good for nothing; hence they are compared to dishonourable and unserviceable vessels; to briers and thorns, and the earth which brings them; to the salt that has lost its savour, and is fit neither for the land, nor for the dunghill; to rotten figs, to chaff, and dross of metals: yea, they are hurtful and injurious to themselves, on whom they bring ruin and destruction; to others, to wicked men, whom they more and more corrupt, and harden in sin; and to good men, whom they grieve; and also to the interest and glory of God, whose laws they transgress, and against whom they sin, affront his justice, and provoke the eyes of his glory, But now profitable to thee and to me; that is, he was now likely to be so, to be profitable to Philemon, as a servant, and to the apostle as a ministering brother. Some think there is in this an allusion to his name Onesimus, which signifies "profitable"; before he did not answer to his name, but now he was a true Onesimus, really a profitable person; grace, of an unprofitable man, makes a profitable one. Such an one is profitable to himself; his godliness is gain unto him, it having both the promise of this life, and of that which is to come; and he is profitable to others, if he has gifts qualifying him for the public work of the ministry, as Onesimus seems to have had; then he is made and becomes very useful to many for conviction, conversion, comfort, and edification; and if only a private believer, he is often profitable to others, by relating the work of God upon his soul; he is serviceable to the interest of Christ, for the support of the ministry, and supply of the poor; he is useful by his good examples, and prayers, in the neighbourhood, town, city, or nation, in which he dwells. This argument from profit, the apostle knew would be an engaging one.

Philemon 1:11

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

American Standard Version (1901)

who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

Bible in Basic English

Who in the past was of no profit to you, but now is of profit to you and to me:

Douay-Rheims 1899

Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,

Free Bible Version

In the past he was of no use to you, but now he's useful to both you and me!

Geneva Bible 1599

Which in times past was to thee vnprofitable, but nowe profitable both to thee and to me,

King James (Authorized) Version

Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

Plain English Version

You see, he used to work for you some time ago, but he didn’t help you. But now he can help both of us, you and me.

Translation for Translators

Although his name, as you know, means ‘useful’, formerly he was useless to you. But now he is useful both to you and to me!

Unlocked Literal Bible

For he once was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

Noah Webster Bible

Who in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

World English Bible

who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

Young's Literal Translation

who once was to thee unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to thee,

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Was 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.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Philemon 1:11

Verse

Context

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Philemon 1:11

Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes