Philemon Chapter 1 verse 14 Holy Bible
but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.
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But without your approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart.
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but I have wished to do nothing without thy mind, that thy good might not be as of necessity but of willingness:
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But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
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read chapter 1 in WBT
But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
read chapter 1 in WEB
and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 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. . . .
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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.