Philemon Chapter 1 verse 17 Holy Bible
If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.
read chapter 1 in ASV
If then you take me to be your friend and brother, take him in as myself.
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If therefore thou holdest me to be a partner [with thee], receive him as me;
read chapter 1 in DARBY
If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
read chapter 1 in KJV
read chapter 1 in WBT
If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
read chapter 1 in WEB
If, then, with me thou hast fellowship, receive him as me,
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 17. - If thou count me therefore a partner; if thou holdest me for a friend - by our friendship entreat this. The strongest form of entreaty possible to be used. Κοινωνία in Acts 2:42 refers to the Holy Communion, and in 1 Corinthians 10:16-21 partakers of it are plainly called by implication κοινωνοὶ ( παρτακερσ, or, as we should say, "communicants." But here the sense is apparently as above; literally, a partner.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) A partner.--The title is peculiar. In the singular number (in which it is naturally more distinctive) and in absolute use, unconnected with explanatory words (such as we read in 1Peter 5:1), it is nowhere else found, except in 2Corinthians 8:23, where Titus is called St. Paul's "partner and fellow helper;" and even there the context defines the partnership as relating to the collection and ministration of alms. Here it can hardly refer to general Christian fellowship, which would require some such words as "in Christ," or "in the Spirit," and would not fully justify the strong personal appeal of the passage. It must indicate some peculiar bond of fellowship between St. Paul and Philemon. Philemon was his convert (see Philemon 1:19); yet we notice that he writes to him not as a son, but as a brother. Evidently he was a leader in the Church at Colossae. Tradition, as usual, makes him its bishop. He must have been St. Paul's partner in some common work or special communion of familiarity. (See Introduction, sect. 2.)
