Philemon 1

Philemon · Chapter 1

Philemon 1:11

1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.8Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.18If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.22But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul is pleading with Philemon for Onesimus, who had become Paul's spiritual son while Paul was in prison. He admits that Onesimus was once "unprofitable" to Philemon, but says he is now "profitable" to both of them. Paul then sends him back and asks Philemon to receive him as a brother. Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:11Philemon 1:12Philemon 1:16

SpeakingPaul, writing as "a prisoner of Jesus Christ" together with Timothy. Philemon 1:1Philemon overview

ToPhilemon, Paul's fellow-worker, along with Apphia, Archippus, and the church that met in his house. Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:2Philemon overview

Also involvedOnesimus, Philemon's servant. He had left Philemon and had become a believer through Paul. Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:15Philemon overview

Paul contrasts Onesimus's past and present. Before, he was useless to Philemon. Now he is useful to Philemon and to Paul. This change supports Paul's request that Philemon take him back. Philemon 1:11Strong's G0890Strong's G2173Philemon 1:12

Paul wrote from prison, but the letter does not name the city. Rome is the traditional view. It was sent to Philemon's household, probably in Colossae, since Colossians calls Onesimus "one of you." Philemon overview

ASIAGALATIAPHRYGIAAegean SeaColossaeLaodiceaHierapolisEphesusMiletus

The eventsThis happened after Onesimus had "departed" from Philemon and come to faith through Paul during Paul's imprisonment. Onesimus was being sent back at the time of the letter. Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:12Philemon 1:15

WrittenTraditional view: about AD 60-62, from prison in Rome, at the same time as Colossians. Scholarly view: nearly all accept that Paul wrote it, but some place the imprisonment at Ephesus (about AD 54-55) or Caesarea (about AD 57-59). Philemon overview

HereThe verse helps Paul's appeal. If Onesimus is now useful, Philemon has good reason to welcome him back. Paul even says he would have liked to keep him to serve with him. Philemon 1:11Philemon 1:12Philemon 1:13Philemon overview

In the whole of ScriptureThe "in time past... but now" pattern matches other Scripture, where God's mercy changes people: "Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God." It also echoes the father's words about the son who "was lost, and is found." Philemon 1:111 Peter 2:10Luke 15:24Luke 15:32

For readersA person's past does not have to define how believers receive them now. Paul asks that Onesimus, once "unprofitable," be received as "a brother beloved"; Mark too became "profitable... for the ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11). Philemon 1:11Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:172 Timothy 4:11

  • unprofitableἄχρηστος
    Greek · achrēstos · G0890

    The word means useless or unserviceable. The lexicon lists it as the direct opposite of the word for "useful" in this same verse. Strong's G0890

  • profitableεὔχρηστος
    Greek · euchrēstos · G2173

    The word means useful or serviceable. It is the same word used of Mark in 2 Timothy 4:11, "he is profitable to me for the ministry," so it can describe usefulness in gospel service. Strong's G21732 Timothy 4:11

  • in time pastποτέ
    Greek · pote · G4218

    The word means once or formerly. It is used elsewhere for believers' lives before their change, as in 1 Peter 2:10, which sets up the before-and-after contrast here. Strong's G42181 Peter 2:10

  • nowνυνί
    Greek · nuni · G3570

    This is a strengthened form of "now." It is used for the present time and marks the contrast with Onesimus's past. Strong's G3570

Takeaway

Onesimus had once been useless to Philemon, but now he is useful to Philemon and to Paul. Paul uses that change to ask Philemon to welcome him back as a brother, not just as a servant. Philemon 1:11Philemon 1:16

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-23.

The world around the text

Behind this verse

A name that means "useful"
Onesimus was a common name for slaves and means "useful" or "profitable." Paul plays on it: once unprofitable, now profitable. Philemon 1:11Colossians 4:9
Asking a friend to plead
Roman lawyers discussed slaves who went to a friend of their master to ask him to plead for them, and held that such a slave was not counted a runaway. Pliny the Younger wrote a letter of this kind, begging a friend to forgive a freedman who had come to him in tears. Justinian, Digest 21.1.17.4 (citing Proculus)Pliny the Younger, Letters 9.21, 9.24

About AD 60-62. Roman emperor: Nero (AD 54-68). Where Philemon and the church in his house lived. A small town in the Lycus valley of Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia, about 190 km (120 miles) east of Ephesus.

Who ruled
  • Roman emperorNeroAD 54-68

    Emperor over Rome, Asia and Judea. Paul, a Roman citizen, had appealed to Caesar, who in these years was Nero. Acts 25:10-12Acts 28:16Suetonius, NeroTacitus, Annals 13-16

  • Governor of the province where Colossae stoodThe proconsul of AsiaOne-year terms

    Asia was governed by a proconsul appointed for a year at a time, who heard cases in the province's leading cities. Acts 19:38Strabo, Geography 17.3.25

  • Governor of Judea and Jewish client kingFestus and Agrippa IIc. AD 59-62; c. AD 50-90s

    Festus and King Agrippa heard Paul's defense in Caesarea and sent him on to Rome as he had asked. Acts 25:12Acts 25:23-26:32

What was happening, AD 58 to AD 64
  1. AD 58-63
    WarRome and Parthia fight over Armenia

    Roman armies under Corbulo campaigned in Armenia until the two empires made peace in AD 63. Tacitus, Annals 13.34-41, 14.23-26, 15.1-17, 15.24-31

  2. c. AD 59-60
    The churchPaul's voyage to Rome

    Paul sailed for Rome as a prisoner, was shipwrecked on Malta, and reached Rome the following spring. Acts 27:1-28:16

  3. AD 60
    DisasterEarthquake in the Lycus valley

    An earthquake ruined Laodicea, about 16 km (10 miles) from Colossae; Laodicea rebuilt without Rome's help. A later Christian historian says Hierapolis and Colossae fell in the same disaster. Tacitus, Annals 14.27Orosius, History Against the Pagans 7.7.12Colossians 4:13

  4. AD 60-61
    WarBoudica's revolt in Britain

    Boudica, queen of the Iceni, led a rising that burned Colchester, London and St Albans before the Romans defeated her. Tacitus, Annals 14.29-39

  5. c. AD 60-62
    The churchPaul under guard in Rome

    Paul lived two whole years in his own rented house, guarded by a soldier, receiving all who came to him. Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians and Philippians are traditionally dated to these years. Acts 28:16Acts 28:30-31Philippians 1:13

  6. AD 61
    RulersA slave-owner's murder shakes Rome

    When the city prefect Pedanius Secundus was killed by one of his slaves, the Senate upheld the old law that all 400 slaves of his household be executed, despite protests from the crowd. Tacitus, Annals 14.42-45

  7. AD 62
    The churchJames, the Lord's brother, is killed

    Between governors, the high priest Ananus had "James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ" stoned in Jerusalem. Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203Galatians 1:19

  8. AD 64
    The churchFire in Rome, and Nero blames the Christians

    After a great fire burned much of Rome, Nero blamed the Christians and put a "vast multitude" to death. Tacitus, Annals 15.38-44Suetonius, Nero 16.2

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient writers on these years and places (Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Strabo, Herodotus, Pliny, Roman law). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
onceποτέpoteG4218
once/when

ποτέ (pote) ποτέ enclitic particle, 1. once, formerly, sometime: of the past, Jhn.9:13 Rom.7:9 11:30, Gal.1:13, 23 2:6 (Lft., in l), Eph.2:2-3, 11 2:13 5:8, Col.1:21 3:7, 1Th.2:5, Tit.3:3, Phm 11, 1Pe.2:10 3:5 3:20; ἤδη ποτέ, now at length, Php.4:10; of the fut., Luk.22:32; εἴ πως ἤδη ποτέ, if sometime soon at length, Rom.1:10. 2. ever: after a neg., Eph.5:29, 2Pe.1:10 1:21; in a question, τίς π., 1Co.9:7, Heb.1:5, 13.† (AS)

to youσοιsoiG4771
you

σέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

uselessἄχρηστονachrēstonG0890
useless

ἄχρηστος (achrēstos) ά-χρηατος, -ον [in LXX: Hos.8:8 (חֵפֶץ אַיִן), Wis.2:11, Sir.16:1, al. ;] useless; unserviceable: opposite to εὔχρηστος, Phm 11.† (AS)

nowνυνὶnuniG3570
now

νυνί (nuni) νῦνί an Attic strengthened form of νῦν (in cl. always of time, and most often strictly of the pres.), [in LXX : Job.5:1-27, Psa.2:1-12, 1-12, 4Ma.4:1-26, Ep. Je* ;] now; 1. of time: with praes., Act.24:13, Rom.15:23, 25, 1Co.13:13, 2Co.8:11 8:22, Phm 9 11; with pf., Rom.3:21; with pret., Rom.6:22 11:30 (WH, mg.) Rom.7:6, Eph.2:13, Col.1:21 3:8; ἡ ν. ἀπολογία, Act.22:1. 2. Of logical sequence (not so in cl.): Rom.7:17, 1Co.5:11 (νῦν, WH) 1Co.12:18 (νῦν, WH, txt.) 1Co.15:20, Heb.8:6 (νῦν, WH, txt.), Heb.9:26 (cf. WM, 24, 579n).† (AS)

howeverδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; …

to youσοὶsoiG4771
you

σέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

to me myselfἐμοὶemoiG1473
I/we

ἐγώ (egō) ἐγώ, genitive, etc., ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ (enclitic μου, μοι, με), pl. ἡμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς, of person(s) pron. I. (a) The nom. is usually emphatic, when expressed as subjc, as in Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Luk.3:16, al. But often there is no apparent emphasis, as Mat.10:16, Jhn.10:17; ἰδοὺ ἐ. (= Heb. הִנֵּנִי, cf. 1Ki.3:8), Act.9:10; ἐ. (like Heb. אֲנִי), I am, Jhn.1:23 (LXX), Act.7:32 (LXX). …

useful,εὔχρηστον,euchrēstonG2173
helpful

εὔχρηστος (euchrēstos) εὔ-χρηστος, -ον (εὖ, χράομαι), [in LXX: Pro.31:13 (חֵפֶץ), Wis.13:13 * ;] useful, serviceable: with dative of person(s), 2Ti.2:21; id. before εἰς, with dative of thing(s), 2Ti.4:11; opposite to ἄχρηστος, Phm 11.† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.