It is unclear exactly how Onesimus was useless to Philemon.1 Perhaps he was a lazy slave or his services were not really required. Most likely Paul is using wordplay with his name. Onesimus means useful in Greek. Now, with his newfound faith in Jesus Christ, Onesimus is proving to be a much better or more useful servant than what he was in the past.2
11 qui autrefois t'a été inutile, mais qui maintenant est utile, et à toi et à moi.