Philemon 1:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)

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

NASB: who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

CSB: Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

NLT: Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.

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

NKJV: who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

According to Paul, Onesimus had been useless to Philemon, as a runaway, but was now useful to both Philemon and Paul. The Greek term for "useless" is archreston, which rhymes with euchreston, meaning "useful." These rhymes also make a play on words, based around the meaning of Onesimus' name: "useful."

Interestingly, Paul mentions "useful" twice in his letter to 2 Timothy. First, he used the spiritual analogy of a person's value to the master of the house (2 Timothy 2:21). Second, this same term for usefulness or value is applied to Mark, who served with Paul on a mission trip and wrote the Gospel of Mark. Paul told Timothy to bring Mark along on account of this usefulness in ministry (2 Timothy 4:11).

Onesimus is now useful both to Paul and to Philemon. Onesimus had been helpful to Paul in his imprisonment, by delivering the letter to the Colossian church and this letter to Philemon. He may have assisted Paul in other ways as well. Onesimus obviously could have been useful to Philemon as a slave, but would now be more useful since he was a fellow believer. In the next verses, Paul makes a request of Philemon to make Onesimus even more useful—expecting him to be forgiven, freed, and able to serve in ministry.

Philemon 1:8–16 is Paul’s plea to Philemon that he would forgive and free the runaway slave Onesimus. Onesimus seems to have known Paul from his visits to Colossae, then encountered him in Rome after running away. After becoming a Christian, he returns to Philemon with this letter from Paul. Paul reminds Philemon that the three of them, including Onesimus, are brothers, and should be treated the same way.

Philemon is a letter from Paul, regarding a runaway slave named Onesimus. Paul respectfully requests that Philemon forgive his runaway slave, free him, and allow him to serve Christ without restrictions. Philemon was a prominent figure in the church of Colossae. Paul goes so far as to ask Philemon to charge any debts owed by Onesimus to Paul himself.

Philemon is short enough that it only contains a single chapter. Because Paul knows Philemon personally, and has only positive things to say about him, there is no need for a lengthy discussion. Paul appeals to Philemon to forgive and release his runaway slave, Onesimus. Onesimus, a convert to Christianity, seems be the one sent to deliver this letter to his former master.

Philemon is one of the shorter books in the Bible, but it contains some important information. The Christian concept of slavery cannot be understood without a proper review of this letter. Paul recognizes the facts of slavery in his era, and does not command Philemon to release Onesimus. However, he does appeal to the unity we share in Christ as a reason for Philemon to set this man free.