ἄχρηστος

From the study of Philemon 1:11

Range of meaning

Formed from the negative prefix a- ('not') and chrēstos ('useful, good, serviceable'), from chraomai ('to use'). It means useless, unserviceable, worthless or unprofitable. It was used of tools, vessels, land, soldiers, children and slaves that failed in their purpose. It can also carry a moral edge: good for nothing, worthless.

Against the English

'Useless' (BSB, NIV, ESV, WEB, NASB) is accurate. KJV and YLT have 'unprofitable', which in 1611 meant 'of no benefit'. Today it sounds like a financial loss, which is too narrow, although Onesimus may in fact have cost Philemon money (v.18).

How it drifted

Only the KJV wording has drifted: 'profit' has become mainly a money word. The Greek word itself is about usefulness and function.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used only here in the New Testament. In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) it describes Israel as 'a useless vessel' among the nations (Hos 8:8). Sirach 16:1 warns against wanting 'a multitude of useless children', and Wisdom 2:11 has the wicked saying that 'weakness proves itself useless'. In ordinary Greek literature and the papyri, it was a routine way to complain about a slave who would not or could not do his work. Ancient writers repeated a stereotype of Phrygian slaves (from the region around Colossae) as lazy and good for nothing.