Philemon 1:11 NIV

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Philemon 1:11

unprofitable = not useful. Greek. achrestos. Only here. Figure of speech Meiosis . App-6 . profitable . Greek. euchrestos . See 2 Timothy 2:21 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Philemon 1:11

who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:Since the word Onesimus means "profitable," many have supposed that Paul's play upon words here was intended as a pun, as if he had said, "Well, at last this profitable slave is living up to his name." However, Lenski pointed out that the two words for "profitable" derive from different roots. "This mars the supposed pun ... In a real pun the words must have at least a similar sound; not even that is the case here."[25]... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Philemon 1:11

Philemon 1:11. To thee unprofitable, but now profitable, &c.— The word Onesimus is generallyknown to signifyprofitable, and Onesiphorus is much of the same import: they were names which might perhaps have been given to slaves by way of good omen, expressing expectation that they would bring advantage to their masters; and it is very evident that St. Paul refers to the etymology of the word. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Philemon 1:11

Which ... was ... unprofitable — belying his name Onesimus, which means “profitable.” Not only was he “unprofitable,” but positively injurious, having “wronged” his master. Paul uses a mild expression.now profitable — Without godliness a man has no station. Profitable in spiritual, as well as in temporal things. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philemon 1:8-11

A. Paul’s appeal vv. 8-11 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philemon 1:8-21

III. PLEA FOR ONESIMUS vv. 8-21Paul appealed to Philemon to receive Onesimus back and to forgive him. He did this to enable Onesimus to fulfill his obligations to Philemon and to encourage Philemon to benefit from Onesimus’ conversion rather than to be stumbled by it. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philemon 1:10-11

"Onesimus" means "useful." Paul mentioned his name here (Philemon 1:10) for the first time having prepared Philemon for the unpleasant memories associated with his formerly unfaithful servant by the foregoing comments. He called Onesimus his child. The figurative parent-child relationship was common in both Judaism and the pagan mystery religions as an illustration of the teacher-pupil relationship or the leader-convert relationship. [Note: Eduard Lohse, "Colossians and Philemon," in Hermeneia,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Philemon 1:8-20

(8-20) Here St. Paul enters on the main subject of his Letter—the recommendation to Philemon of his runaway slave, Onesimus. All thoughtful readers of the Epistle must recognise in this a peculiar courtesy and delicacy of tone, through which an affectionate earnestness shows itself, and an authority all the greater because it is not asserted in command. The substance is equally notable in its bearing on slavery. Onesimus is doubly welcomed into the Christian family. He is St. Paul’s son in the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Philemon 1:11

(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... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:8-11

Chapter 5 Philemon 1:8-11 (R.V.)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 them he has not... read more

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Philemon 1:11

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Philemon 1:11

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Philemon 1:11

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Philemon 1:11

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philemon 1:8-11

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philemon 1:8-21

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Philemon 1:10-11

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Philemon 1:8-20

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Philemon 1:11

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Philemon 1:8-11

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