Philemon 10-16
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
10 I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment,(A) 11 who was once useless to you but is now useful[a] to [both] you and me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve[b] me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel,(B) 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.(C) 15 Perhaps this is why he was away from[c] you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man[d] and in the Lord.(D)
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- 11 Useless…useful: here Paul plays on the name Onesimus, which means “useful” or “beneficial.” The verb translated “profit” in Phlm 20 is cognate.
- 13 Serve: the Greek diakoneō could connote a ministry.
- 15 Was away from: literally, “was separated from,” but the same verb means simply “left” in Acts 18:1. It is a euphemism for his running away.
- 16 As a man: literally, “in the flesh.” With this and the following phrase, Paul describes the natural and spiritual orders.
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