The Meaning of Philemon 1:17 Explained

Philemon 1:17

KJV: If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

YLT: If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me,

Darby: If therefore thou holdest me to be a partner with thee, receive him as me;

ASV: If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If  thou count  me  therefore  a partner,  receive  him  as  myself. 

What does Philemon 1:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Finally Paul articulated his request. He based it on his relationship with Philemon as a Christian brother, a partner in union with Christ.
"Paul"s term "partner" must not be weakened to mean merely an intimate friend or companion. It suggests the fellowship or partnership of those who have common interests, common feelings, common work. It is a spiritual fellowship and has a double aspect, Godward as well as brotherward. It is the partnership of mutual Christian faith and life. It is upon Philemon"s acceptance of this fellowship that Paul bases his appeal. The form of the conditional sentence assumes the reality of that fact. Philemon"s refusal of Paul"s request would be inconsistent with his acknowledgment of this partnership." [1]
One writer believed that fellowship is the major concept in this epistle. [2]
"Onesimus, in the lowest social status in the Roman world—a slave with no rights—was on a spiritual plane equal with his owner Philemon and with the leading apostle!" [3]

Context Summary

Philemon 1:15-25 - To Be Received As A Brother
The Apostle's pleas for the restoration of Onesimus to his old trusted position in the household of Philemon are very touching. He suggests, first, that there may have been a divine purpose in it all, and that the former's flight had been permitted as a step in the entire renovation of the slave's nature. And, therefore, because Philemon and Onesimus were two Christians, their relationship had been transformed. "In the flesh, Philemon has the brother for his slave; in the Lord, Philemon has the slave for his brother." Then in Philemon 1:17 Paul identifies himself with Onesimus; and we are taught to think of our Lord identifying Himself with us, because, as Luther says, "we are all Onesimuses." Further, in Philemon 1:18 Paul offers to assume all the losses which Onesimus had brought on Philemon, and signs the bond with his autograph, as our Lord paid the great ransom price for us all. Finally, Paul delicately reminds his friend, in Philemon 1:19, that Philemon owed him a great deal more than a trifle of money, namely, his spiritual life. Does not our Lord address us in similar terms? We surely owe ourselves to Him!
Owing to the brevity of this Epistle Review Questions are omitted [source]

Chapter Summary: Philemon 1

1  Paul rejoices to hear of the faith and love of Philemon,
8  whom he desires to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him again

Greek Commentary for Philemon 1:17

If then thou countest me a partner [ει ουν με εχεις κοινωνον]
As I assume that you do, condition of the first class. [source]
Receive him as myself [προσλαβου αυτον ως εμε]
“Take him to thyself (indirect second aorist middle of προσλαμβανω — proslambanō as in Acts 18:26) as myself.” Surpassing delicacy and consummate tact. These words sound the death-knell of human slavery wherever the spirit of Christ is allowed to have its way. It has been a long and hard fight to break the shackles of human bondage even in Christian countries and there are still millions of slaves in pagan and Mohammedan lands. Paul wrote these words with wisdom and courage and sincerity. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Philemon 1:17

Acts 20:23 In every city [κατα πολιν]
Singular here though plural in κατ οικους — kat' oikous (Acts 20:20). Bonds and afflictions (δεσμα και τλιπσεις — desma kai thlipseis). Both together as in Philemon 1:17; 2 Corinthians 1:8. Literal bonds and actual pressures. Abide me With the accusative as in Acts 20:5 (εμενον ημας — emenon hēmas) and nowhere else in the N.T. [source]
Acts 20:23 Bonds and afflictions [δεσμα και τλιπσεις]
Both together as in Philemon 1:17; 2 Corinthians 1:8. Literal bonds and actual pressures. [source]
1 Thessalonians 3:3 We are appointed [κείμεθα]
As Luke 2:34(see note); Philemon 1:17. Comp. Acts 14:22, in which occur four of the words used here. For the thought, see Matthew 5:10; Matthew 10:17; Matthew 16:24; 1 Peter 2:21ff.; 1 Peter 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:12. [source]
1 Timothy 4:12 Purity [ἁγνίᾳ]
Only here and 1 Timothy 5:2. Ἁγνός pure 1 Timothy 5:22; Titus 2:5. In Paul, 2 Corinthians 8:11; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Philemon 4:8. Also in James, Peter, and 1John. Ἁγνότης purity 2 Corinthians 6:6; 2 Corinthians 11:3. olxx, oClass. Ἁγνός always with a moral sense; not limited to sins of the flesh, but covering purity in motives as well as in acts. In 1 John 3:3, of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11:2, of virgin purity. In James 3:17, as a characteristic of heavenly wisdom. Ἁγνῶς purely(Philemon 1:17), of preaching the gospel with unmixed motives. The verb ἁγνίζειν topurify, which in lxx is used only of ceremonial purification, has that meaning in four of the seven instances in N.T. (John 11:55; Acts 21:24, Acts 21:26; Acts 24:18). In the others (James 4:8; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3) it is used of purifying the heart and soul. [source]
Hebrews 10:33 Whilst ye became companions [κοινωνοὶ γενηθέντες]
Rend. by becoming partakers. More than companionship is implied. For κοινωνοὶ see on Luke 5:10. The noun and its kindred verb in N.T. almost exclusively of ethical and spiritual relations, as 1 Timothy 5:22; 1 Peter 4:13; 2 John 1:11; 1 Corinthians 10:18; 2 Corinthians 1:7; Philemon 1:17. Even when applied to pecuniary contributions they imply Christian fellowship as the basis of the liberality. See on Romans 12:13; see on Romans 15:27; see on Philemon 4:15. [source]

What do the individual words in Philemon 1:17 mean?

If therefore me you consider a partner receive him as me
Εἰ οὖν με ἔχεις κοινωνόν προσλαβοῦ αὐτὸν ὡς ἐμέ

με  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἔχεις  you  consider 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
κοινωνόν  a  partner 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: κοινωνός  
Sense: a partner, associate, comrade, companion.
προσλαβοῦ  receive 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Middle, 2nd Person Singular
Root: προσαναλαμβάνω 
Sense: to take to, take in addition, to take to one’s self.
ἐμέ  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.