Philemon 1:14 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your permission, so that your goodness [of heart] would not be shown out of a feeling of obligation, but out of willingness.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹⁴ but without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁴ 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].

American Standard Version (1901)

¹⁴ but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.

Common English Bible

¹⁴ However, I didn’t want to do anything without your consent so that your act of kindness would occur willingly and not under pressure.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁴ But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹⁴ But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.

Philemon 1:14 Cross References

1 Corinthians 9:17

For if I preached because [I personally decided] I wanted to, I could claim a reward. But if I did not preach from a personal decision to do so, then it would be because I was entrusted with the task [by God]

1 Corinthians 9:7

What soldier ever served [in the army] and paid his own expenses? Who [ever] planted a grape orchard and did not get to eat some of the grapes it produced? Or, who [ever] tended a flock of goats and did not get to drink some of the milk?

2 Corinthians 1:24

For we do not have [the right to] rule over your faith [i.e., to dictate concerning your personal relationship with God], but we want to work with you for your happiness. For you are [already] standing firm in your faith. [Note: This whole narrative alludes to some unresolved problems still existing there in Corinth]

2 Corinthians 8:12

For if the eagerness is there, [then] whatever a person has [to give] is acceptable, and not what he does not have.

2 Corinthians 9:5

So, I thought it necessary to urge the brothers [See verse 3] to visit you ahead of time and arrange beforehand for your previously promised generous gift. Then it will be ready [when I arrive] as a generously given gift and not as something given grudgingly.

2 Corinthians 9:7

Each person should give what he has decided to in his heart, not grudgingly, nor out of a feeling that he has to, for God loves a cheerful giver.