Philemon 1:11
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Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
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.
Open source ↗In this epistle we have, I. The preface (Plm 1:1-7). II. The substance and body of it (Plm 1:8-21). And then the conclusion (Plm 1:22 to the end.)
Open source ↗1:11 Onesimus means “useful.” • hasn’t been of much use (literally useless) . . . very useful: This might be a play on words (cp. 1:20). Onesimus was now serving others and proclaiming the Good News. At last he had become what his name means.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.
But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.