Philemon 1:14 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.

◄ Philemon 1:14 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
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
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 American Standard Bible
but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

King James Bible
But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But I didn't want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will.

International Standard Version
Yet I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be something forced, but voluntary.

American Standard Version
but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.

Darby Bible Translation
but I have wished to do nothing without thy mind, that thy good might not be as of necessity but of willingness:

Young's Literal Translation
and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

1:8-14 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. Unholy persons are unprofitable; they answer not the great end of their being. But what happy changes conversion makes! of evil, good; of unprofitable, useful. Religious servants are treasures in a family. Such will make conscience of their time and trusts, and manage all they can for the best. No prospect of usefulness should lead any to neglect their obligations, or to fail in obedience to superiors. One great evidence of true repentance consists in returning to practise the duties which have been neglected. In his unconverted state, Onesimus had withdrawn, to his master's injury; but now he had seen his sin and repented, he was willing and desirous to return to his duty. Little do men know for what purposes the Lord leaves some to change their situations, or engage in undertakings, perhaps from evil motives. Had not the Lord overruled some of our ungodly projects, we may reflect upon cases, in which our destruction must have been sure.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

14. 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.