Philemon 1:11
New International Version
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

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

English Standard Version
(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)

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

Berean Literal Bible
once useless to you, but now useful both to you and to me,

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

New King James Version
who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.

New American Standard Bible
who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

NASB 1995
who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

NASB 1977
who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

Legacy Standard Bible
who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.

Amplified Bible
Once he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you as well as to me.

Christian Standard Bible
Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

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

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
He who was not useful to you at times, but now also is very useful to you and to me,

Contemporary English Version
Before this, he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Who hath been heretofore unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable both to me and thee,

English Revised Version
who was aforetime unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful to both of us.

Good News Translation
At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

International Standard Version
Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful both to you and to me.

Literal Standard Version
who once was to you unprofitable, and now is profitable to me and to you,

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

New American Bible
who was once useless to you but is now useful to [both] you and me.

NET Bible
who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me.

New Revised Standard Version
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me.

New Heart English Bible
who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Who in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

Weymouth New Testament
Formerly he was useless to you, but now--true to his name--he is of great use to you 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,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



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.…

Cross References
Matthew 25:30
And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Philemon 1:10
I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.

Philemon 1:12
I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.


Treasury of Scripture

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

unprofitable.

Job 30:1,2
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock…

Matthew 25:30
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 17:10
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

profitable.

Luke 15:24,32
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry…

2 Timothy 4:11
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

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Formerly Great Indeed Once Past Profit Profitable Serviceable Time True. Unprofitable Use Useful Useless
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Formerly Great Indeed Once Past Profit Profitable Serviceable Time True. Unprofitable Use Useful Useless
Philemon 1
1. Paul rejoices to hear of the faith and love of Philemon,
8. whom he desires to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him again.














(11) In time past . . . unprofitable, but now profitable.--The name Onesimus means "useful," or "profitable," though derived from a different root from the words here used. It is hardly possible not to see in this passage a play on words, though (curiously enough) this is not noticed by the old Greek commentators. St. Paul seems to say, "He belied his name in days past; he will more than deserve it now."

To thee and to me.--St. Paul says "to thee," for he was sending back Onesimus. He adds "to me," in affectionate notice of his kindly ministrations already rendered to his spiritual father.

Verse 11. - Who was aforetime unprofitable ... to me. The play upon words seems unmistakable, and is peculiarly Pauline. Onesimus means "useful," or "profitable;" ἄχρηστος, "unprofitable," and εὔχρηστος is emphatic, "very profitable." "Useful he is named, but in time past he was (I confess it) not useful, but useless; in future, however, he will be of great use to us both." Compare with this the corresponding passage of Pliny's 'Letter to Sabinianus,' given in the Introduction. "Unprofitable" is a figure of speech, a euphemism, for "useless and even injurious." St. Paul makes the best of Onesimus's fault that it will in justice allow. But an old commentator says bluntly that Onesimus was "damnosus fuga et furto." How could he have been, in his unconverted state, otherwise than "unprofitable" to his master? "Olim paganus," says a Lapide, "jam Christianus; olim fur, jam fidelis servus; olim profugus, jam redux."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Formerly
ποτέ (pote)
Particle
Strong's 4218: At one time or other, at some time, formerly. From the base of pou and te; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever.

[he was] useless
ἄχρηστον (achrēston)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 890: Unprofitable, useless, detrimental. Inefficient, i.e. detrimental.

to you,
σοι (soi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

now
νυνὶ (nyni)
Adverb
Strong's 3570: A prolonged form of nun for emphasis; just now.

[he has become] useful
εὔχρηστον (euchrēston)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2173: Useful, serviceable, very profitable. From eu and chrestos; easily used, i.e. Useful.

both
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

to you
σοὶ (soi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

to me.
ἐμοὶ (emoi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.


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NT Letters: Philemon 1:11 Who once was useless to you (Phm Phl)
Philemon 1:10
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