Philemon 1:14 - Forerunner Commentary

Philemon 1:14

12 I am sending him¹ back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own² heart,

13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, ^athat your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,

16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the ^aflesh and in the Lord.

Philemon’s Obedience Encouraged

17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

Verse Comparison: Philemon 1:14

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Philemon 1:15 >>

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

Amplified® Bible
But it has been my wish to do nothing about it without first consulting you {and} getting your consent, in order that your benevolence might not seem to be the result of compulsion {or} of pressure but might be voluntary [on your part].

Contemporary English Version
But I won't do anything unless you agree to it first. I want your act of kindness to come from your heart, and not be something you feel forced to do.

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

Good News Bible
However, I do not want to force you to help me; rather, I would like for you to do it of your own free will. So I will not do anything unless you agree.

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.

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

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.

New International Version
But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.

New King James Version
But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not result, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

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,

New English Translation
However,¹ without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness.

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Philemon 1:15 >>