Philemon 1:17

εἰ οὗν. οὗν sums up the preceding argument fr. Philemon 1:10-16 and embodies it in the following direct request.

με, the emphasis is not on this but on κοινωνόν.

ἔχεις. Probably = hold, reckon, cf. Matthew 14:5.

κοινωνόν, “partner.” Not to be weakened (with Chrysostom) to mean little more than φίλον. Probably even “comrade” and “associate” are too weak here, for κοινωνός implies more or less formal partnership. In Luke 5:10 it has probably its strictest meaning, and the business terms in the two following verses are quite in accordance with this meaning here. But of course the partnership between Philemon and St Paul was in spiritual matters, i.e. the Gospel, with all that it means of both blessings and duties. Similarly of St Paul and Titus, 2 Corinthians 8:23.

προσλαβοῦ. Elsewhere in St Paul’s Epp. only Romans 14:1; Romans 14:3; Romans 15:7 bis. It implies receiving into full fellowship, as God received us. It would be a fitting term, one would suppose, to be used of a firm admitting a fresh partner, but the actual usage is more general; see esp. Acts 18:26; Acts 28:2; 2Ma 8:1.

αὐτὸν ὡς ἐμέ, cf. Philemon 1:12.