Philemon 1:11 NIV

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Philemon 1:1-25

Analysis and Annotation 1. The greeting (Philemon 1:1-3 ) 2. Recognition of Philemon’s faith and love (Philemon 1:4-7 ) 3. Concerning the reception of Onesimus (Philemon 1:8-21 ) 4.The conclusion (Philemon 1:22-25 ) Philemon 1:1-3 He speaks of himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus; the Lord had made him a prisoner. He addresses Philemon (meaning: friendly, loving), the beloved, and his fellow-laborer. Apphia was probably the wife of Philemon; Archippus is called “fellow soldier”; he... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Philemon 1:8-20

Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, (9) Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. (10) I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: (11) Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: (12) Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: (13) Whom I would have retained with... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:11

Who heretofore was unprofitable to thee, in taking and spending what belonged to thee, yet now, after a sincere conversion, is profitable [5] both to me and thee; to me, by the services he has done me in prison; and the joy I have had by his conversion; and also to thee, because I know thou wouldst have been glad to have rendered me all possible services thyself, and he has done them for thee; he hath supplied thy place. For these reasons I could have wished to have detained him with me:... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Philemon 1:8-14

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... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Philemon 1:8-14

Paul's Intercession for Onesimus. v. 8. Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, v. 9. yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. v. 10. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds; v. 11. which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me; v. 12. whom I have sent again. Thou, therefore, receive him,... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Philemon 1:8-21

IIIEarnest intercession for the fugitive Onesimus, and commendation of himPhilemon 1:8-218Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin [upon] thee that which is convenient [becoming];6 9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee [beseech rather, and without “thee”],7 being [. Being] such an one as Paul the aged an old man], and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. [comma merely.] I beseech thee for my son [child] Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds [Onesimus belongs here],... read more

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - Philemon 1:8-11

THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON III. Phm_1:8-11 AFTER honest and affectionate praise of Philemon, the Apostle now approaches the main purpose of his letter. But even now he does not blurt it out at once. He probably anticipated that his friend was justly angry with his runaway slave, and therefore, in these verses, he touches a kind of prelude to his request with what we should call the finest tact, if it were not so manifestly the unconscious product of simple good feeling. Even by the end of... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Philemon 1:1-14

a Plea for the Returning Slave Philemon 1:1-14 Onesimus had known the Apostle well in the old days when Paul visited at the house of his master Philemon, who seems to have been a man of importance. His house was large enough to admit of a church assembling in it, and to accommodate the Apostle and his traveling companions when they came to the city. Apphia, his wife, was also a Christian, and Archippus, their son, was engaged in some kind of Christian work in connection with the infant... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - Philemon 1:1-25

Onesimus Philemon 1:1-25 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. The march of the Gospel in the early years. The Early Church gave itself very definitely to the propaganda of the Gospel. This had been the command of God, and this was the leading of the Holy Spirit, who had come to make the Church His Habitation. On the Day of Pentecost there were about three thousand saved. Shortly after, the number of disciples reached five thousand. So mightily did the Word of God increase and prevail. 2. Families which... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Philemon 1:11

‘Who once was unprofitable to you, but is now profitable to you and to me,’ And he points out that although Onesimus was once unprofitable to Philemon, he is now, because he is a brother in Christ, profitable both to Philemon and to Paul, bringing them joy and satisfaction, and serving faithfully in everything he did. We are not told in what way he ‘was unprofitable’. It could have been as just a lazy worker and a belligerent slave. But it may well have been because, when he absconded, he took... read more