Philemon 1:14
New International Version
But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.

New Living Translation
But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.

English Standard Version
but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.

Berean Standard Bible
But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.

Berean Literal Bible
But I wanted to do nothing apart from your consent, so that your good may be not as according to necessity, but according to willingness.

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

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.

New American Standard Bible
but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
but without your consent I did not want to do anything, that your goodness should not be as it were by compulsion, but of your own free will.

Legacy 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 voluntarily.

Amplified Bible
but I did not want to do anything without first getting your consent, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

Christian Standard Bible
But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will.

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

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But I did not want to do anything without your counsel, so that your benefit would not be by necessity, but by your will.

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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Yet, I didn't want to do anything without your consent. I want you to do this favor for me out of your own free will without feeling forced to do it.

Good News Translation
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.

Literal Standard Version
but apart from your mind I willed to do nothing, so that your good deed may not be as of necessity, but of willingness,

Majority Standard Bible
But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.

New American Bible
but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.

NET Bible
However, 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.

New Revised Standard Version
but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.

New Heart English Bible
But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.

Webster's Bible Translation
But without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

Weymouth New Testament
Only I wished to do nothing without your consent, so that his kind action of yours might not be done under pressure, but might be a voluntary one.

World English Bible
But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of 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,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Appeal for Onesimus
13I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will. 15For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good—…

Cross References
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

1 Peter 5:2
Be shepherds of God's flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God's will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;


Treasury of Scripture

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

without.

Philemon 1:8,9
Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, …

2 Corinthians 1:24
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

1 Peter 5:3
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

thy benefit.

1 Chronicles 29:17
I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

Psalm 110:3
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

1 Corinthians 9:7,17
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? …

Jump to Previous
Action Apart Approval Benefit Compulsion Consent Deed Effect Favor Free Freely Good Goodness Kind Mind Necessity Order Pressure Spontaneous Voluntary Want Willed Willing Willingly Willingness Wished Works
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Action Apart Approval Benefit Compulsion Consent Deed Effect Favor Free Freely Good Goodness Kind Mind Necessity Order Pressure Spontaneous Voluntary Want Willed Willing Willingly Willingness Wished Works
Philemon 1
1. Paul rejoices to hear of the faith and love of Philemon,
8. whom he desires to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him again.














(14) That thy benefit should not be . . .--The benefit derived from the service of Onesimus St. Paul acknowledges as coming from Philemon, because given with his consent. He will not keep Onesimus and ask that consent by letter, lest it should be "as it were of necessity:" i.e., lest it should wear even the semblance of constraint.

Verse 14. - But without thy mind I would do nothing. The "would" of Ver. 13 is ἐβουλόμην; the "would" here is ἠθέλησα. The former denoted natural but indeterminate impulse; the latter deliberate conclusion of the will (cf. Romans 7:15, 16). Mind; i.e. knowledge and decision. "Why was he unwilling? For many causes.

(1) Because grave penalties were denounced by Roman law upon those who received or retained fugitive slaves.

(2) That he might not seem to keep back something which was due to Philemon, perhaps to his injury; of which, perhaps, Philemon might have complained.

(3) Because Onesimus himself chose to go back, in order that he might show conclusively that he had net embraced the Christian religion that he might withdraw himself from the power of his lawful lord. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

I did [not] want
ἠθέλησα (ēthelēsa)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

to do
ποιῆσαι (poiēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

[anything]
οὐδὲν (ouden)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

without
Χωρὶς (Chōris)
Preposition
Strong's 5565: Apart from, separately from; without. Adverb from chora; at a space, i.e. Separately or apart from.

your
σῆς (sēs)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4674: Yours, thy, thine. From su; thine.

consent,
γνώμης (gnōmēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1106: Opinion, counsel, judgment, intention, decree. From ginosko; cognition, i.e. opinion, or resolve.

so that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

goodness
ἀγαθόν (agathon)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 18: A primary word; 'good'.

will not be
(ē)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

out of
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

compulsion,
ἀνάγκην (anankēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 318: From ana and the base of agkale; constraint; by implication, distress.

but
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

by
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

your own free will.
ἑκούσιον (hekousion)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1595: Willing, with right good will, voluntary, spontaneous. Neuter of a derivative from hekon; voluntariness.


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NT Letters: Philemon 1:14 But I was willing to do nothing (Phm Phl)
Philemon 1:13
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