14 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.
14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.
14 But I didn't want to do anything behind your back, make you do a good deed that you hadn't willingly agreed to.
14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.
14 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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Philemon 1:14
Commentary on Philemon 1:8-14
(Read Philemon 1:8-14)
It does not lower any one to condescend, and sometimes even to beseech, where, in strictness of right, we might command: the apostle argues from love, rather than authority, in behalf of one converted through his means; and this was Onesimus. In allusion to that name, which signifies "profitable," the apostle allows that in time past he had been unprofitable to Philemon, but hastens to mention the change by which he had become profitable. Unholy persons are unprofitable; they answer not the great end of their being. But what happy changes conversion makes! of evil, good; of unprofitable, useful. Religious servants are treasures in a family. Such will make conscience of their time and trusts, and manage all they can for the best. No prospect of usefulness should lead any to neglect their obligations, or to fail in obedience to superiors. One great evidence of true repentance consists in returning to practise the duties which have been neglected. In his unconverted state, Onesimus had withdrawn, to his master's injury; but now he had seen his sin and repented, he was willing and desirous to return to his duty. Little do men know for what purposes the Lord leaves some to change their situations, or engage in undertakings, perhaps from evil motives. Had not the Lord overruled some of our ungodly projects, we may reflect upon cases, in which our destruction must have been sure.