Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
We have here, I. The main business of the epistle, which was to plead with Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, that he would receive him and be reconciled to him. Many arguments Paul urges for this purpose, Plm 1:8-21. The 1st Argument is taken from what was before noted, and is carried in the illative wherefore: "Seeing so much good is reported of thee and...
Commenting on Philemon 1:8-25
Which in time past was to thee unprofitable,.... Yea, injurious and hurtful; one that was an eye servant, that loitered away his time, and set an ill example to fellow servants; and not only so, but embezzled his master's goods, and robbed him, and run away from him.
Verse 11. Which in time past was to thee unprofitable. Either because he was indolent; because he had wronged him, (comp. ;) or because he had run away from him. It is possible that there may be an allusion here to the meaning of the name Onesimus, which denotes profitable, (from ονινημι, fut.