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

a.

This verse is the grand climax of all that Paul has written up to this point. Receive Onesimus as you would receive me.

b.

Paul assumes that Philemon will have (accept, welcome) him as a partner, one with a common share in the blessings of Christ, an associate. But Philemon was to do more than that. He was to receive Onesimus as one equal to Paul himself.

c.

Paul's conditional statement is a simple form which assumes that the conditional statement is truth. Since you accept me as a partner, then receive him to yourself as you would receive me.

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