“If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.”
If then you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me — the conditional (ei oun) stakes Philemon's partnership with Paul on his reception of Onesimus. The verb lambanō (to receive/welcome) indicates hospitality and integration, not mere toleration. The comparison — as you would receive me — transposes Onesimus into Paul's place; to refuse Onesimus is to refuse Paul. Partnership in the gospel demands walking in its logic of reconciliation.
Church Fathers on Philemon 1:17
No procedure is so apt to gain a hearing, as not to ask for everything at once. For see after how many praises, after how much preparation he has introduced this great matter. After having said that he is “my son,” that he is a partaker of the Gospel, that he is “my bowels,” that you receive him back “as a brother,” and “hold him as a brother,” then he has added “as myself.” And Paul was not ashamed to do this. For he who was not ashamed to be called the servant of the…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!