Philemon 1

Philemon · Chapter 1

Philemon 1:17

1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.8Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.18If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.22But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Paul has just asked Philemon to take Onesimus back "not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved" (1:16). Now he builds on his own friendship with Philemon: if Philemon counts Paul a partner, he should welcome Onesimus the way he would welcome Paul himself. In the next verses Paul even offers to pay whatever Onesimus owes (1:18-19). Philemon 1:16Philemon 1:17Philemon 1:18Philemon 1:19

SpeakingPaul, writing from prison with Timothy (1:1, 1:9). Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:9Philemon overview

ToPhilemon, Paul's "dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer," in whose house a church met (1:1-2). Philemon 1:1Philemon 1:2Philemon overview

Also involvedOnesimus, Philemon's servant who had left him and had become a believer through Paul (1:10-11, 1:15). Philemon 1:10Philemon 1:11Philemon 1:15Philemon overview

Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus "as myself." He links the welcome Philemon gives Onesimus to the partnership Philemon shares with Paul. Philemon 1:17Strong's G2844Strong's G4355

Paul writes from prison; the letter does not name the city, and Rome is the traditional view. It went to Philemon's household, traditionally linked to Colossae (Colossians 4:9, 4:17). Philemon overview

ASIAGALATIAPHRYGIAAegean SeaColossaeLaodiceaHierapolisEphesusMiletus

The eventsOnesimus had "departed" from Philemon for a season and was now being sent back by Paul (1:12, 1:15). Philemon 1:12Philemon 1:15Philemon overview

WrittenTraditional: about AD 60-62, during Paul's imprisonment in Rome. Scholarly: nearly all accept Paul wrote it; some place the imprisonment at Ephesus (about AD 54-55) or Caesarea (about AD 57-59). Philemon overview

HerePaul appeals for love's sake rather than giving an order (1:8-9). He wants Philemon's welcome of Onesimus to be willing, not forced (1:14). Philemon 1:8Philemon 1:9Philemon 1:14Philemon overview

In the whole of ScripturePaul makes the same request as in 1:12, "receive him." Jesus taught that receiving one he sends is receiving him (Matthew 10:40). Here Paul stands in for Onesimus, so a welcome given to the one counts as given to the other. Philemon 1:12Matthew 10:40Philemon 1:17

For readersFellowship with other believers is meant to show itself in how we receive those they love, even one who was once "unprofitable" (1:11). Philemon 1:11Philemon 1:5Philemon 1:17

  • partnerκοινωνός
    Greek · koinōnos · G2844

    The word means a partner, associate or companion, and also a sharer. Paul uses it of Titus, "my partner and fellowhelper" (2 Corinthians 8:23). Paul's appeal rests on this shared bond with Philemon. Strong's G28442 Corinthians 8:23

  • receiveπροσλαμβάνω
    Greek · proslambanō · G4355

    It means to take to oneself or receive, used of persons. The same verb appears in Romans 14:1 and 15:7, so Paul is asking Philemon to take Onesimus in, not just to let him back. Strong's G4355Philemon 1:12

  • Ifεἰ
    Greek · ei · G1487G

    This is a conditional particle that can state a general assumption. Paul builds his request on something he assumes is true: that Philemon does count him a partner. Strong's G1487GPhilemon 1:17

Takeaway

Paul puts himself in Onesimus's place. If Philemon values his partnership with Paul, he should welcome Onesimus as he would welcome Paul. Philemon 1:17Philemon 1:18Philemon overview

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-23.

The world around the text

Behind this verse

Asking a friend to plead
Roman lawyers discussed slaves who went to a friend of their master to ask him to plead for them, and held that such a slave was not counted a runaway. Pliny the Younger wrote a letter of this kind, begging a friend to forgive a freedman who had come to him in tears. Justinian, Digest 21.1.17.4 (citing Proculus)Pliny the Younger, Letters 9.21, 9.24

About AD 60-62. Roman emperor: Nero (AD 54-68). Where Philemon and the church in his house lived. A small town in the Lycus valley of Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia, about 190 km (120 miles) east of Ephesus.

Who ruled
  • Roman emperorNeroAD 54-68

    Emperor over Rome, Asia and Judea. Paul, a Roman citizen, had appealed to Caesar, who in these years was Nero. Acts 25:10-12Acts 28:16Suetonius, NeroTacitus, Annals 13-16

  • Governor of the province where Colossae stoodThe proconsul of AsiaOne-year terms

    Asia was governed by a proconsul appointed for a year at a time, who heard cases in the province's leading cities. Acts 19:38Strabo, Geography 17.3.25

  • Governor of Judea and Jewish client kingFestus and Agrippa IIc. AD 59-62; c. AD 50-90s

    Festus and King Agrippa heard Paul's defense in Caesarea and sent him on to Rome as he had asked. Acts 25:12Acts 25:23-26:32

What was happening, AD 58 to AD 64
  1. AD 58-63
    WarRome and Parthia fight over Armenia

    Roman armies under Corbulo campaigned in Armenia until the two empires made peace in AD 63. Tacitus, Annals 13.34-41, 14.23-26, 15.1-17, 15.24-31

  2. c. AD 59-60
    The churchPaul's voyage to Rome

    Paul sailed for Rome as a prisoner, was shipwrecked on Malta, and reached Rome the following spring. Acts 27:1-28:16

  3. AD 60
    DisasterEarthquake in the Lycus valley

    An earthquake ruined Laodicea, about 16 km (10 miles) from Colossae; Laodicea rebuilt without Rome's help. A later Christian historian says Hierapolis and Colossae fell in the same disaster. Tacitus, Annals 14.27Orosius, History Against the Pagans 7.7.12Colossians 4:13

  4. AD 60-61
    WarBoudica's revolt in Britain

    Boudica, queen of the Iceni, led a rising that burned Colchester, London and St Albans before the Romans defeated her. Tacitus, Annals 14.29-39

  5. c. AD 60-62
    The churchPaul under guard in Rome

    Paul lived two whole years in his own rented house, guarded by a soldier, receiving all who came to him. Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians and Philippians are traditionally dated to these years. Acts 28:16Acts 28:30-31Philippians 1:13

  6. AD 61
    RulersA slave-owner's murder shakes Rome

    When the city prefect Pedanius Secundus was killed by one of his slaves, the Senate upheld the old law that all 400 slaves of his household be executed, despite protests from the crowd. Tacitus, Annals 14.42-45

  7. AD 62
    The churchJames, the Lord's brother, is killed

    Between governors, the high priest Ananus had "James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ" stoned in Jerusalem. Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203Galatians 1:19

  8. AD 64
    The churchFire in Rome, and Nero blames the Christians

    After a great fire burned much of Rome, Nero blamed the Christians and put a "vast multitude" to death. Tacitus, Annals 15.38-44Suetonius, Nero 16.2

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient writers on these years and places (Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Strabo, Herodotus, Pliny, Roman law). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
IfεἰeiG1487G
if

εἰ (ei) εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. I. Conditional, if; 1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; (a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; (b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; (with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; …

thereforeοὖνounG3767
therefore/then

οὖν (oun) οὖν, particle expressing consequence or simple sequence (never standing first in a sentence), wherefore, therefore, then: Mat.3:10, Luk.3:9, Jhn.8:38, Act.1:21, Rom.5:9, al.; in exhortations, Mat.3:8, Luk.11:35, Act.3:19, Rom.6:12, al.; in questions, Mat.13:28, Mrk.15:12, Jhn.8:[5], Rom.6:1, al.; continuing a narrative or resuming it after a digression, Mat.1:17, Luk.3:18, Jhn.1:22 2:18 (and very frequently in this Gospel), Act.26:22, al.; ἄρα οὖν (see: ἄρα); ἐπεὶ οὖν, Heb.2:14; οὖν with ptcp. (= ἐπεὶ οὖν), Act.2:30, Rom.5:1, al.; ἐὰν οὖν (where οὖν rather in sense belongs to the apodosis), …

meμεmeG3165
me

μέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML)

you considerἔχειςecheisG2192
to have/be

ἔχω (echō) ἔχω, [in LXX for אָצֵל (ἐχόμενος), יֵשׁ,בַּעַל, etc., 59 words in all ;] (on the Aktionsart of the various tenses, see M, Pr., 110, 145, 150, 183), to have, as in cl., in various senses and constructions. I. Trans.; 1. 1. to have, hold, hold fast, etc.; (a) to hold, as, in the hand: Rev.5:8 14:6, al.; ἐν τ. χειρί, Rev.1:16 10:2, al.; (b) of arms and clothing, = φέρω, φορέω, to bear, wear: Mat.3:4 22:12, al.; so frequently present ptcp. (LS, see word, A, I, 6; Bl., 74, 2), Mrk.11:13, Jhn.18:10, Rev.9:17, al.; (with) of a woman, ἐν γαστρὶ ἔ, to be with child: Mrk.13:17, Rom.9:10; …

a partner,κοινωνόν,koinōnonG2844
participant

κοινωνός (koinōnos) κοινωνός, -ή, -όν (κοινός), [in LXX: Pro.28:24, Isa.1:23 (חָבֵר), Mal.2:14 (חֲבֶרֶת), Est.8:13, al. ;] 1. as adj., = κοινός. 2. As subst., ὁ, ἡ κ., (a) a partner, associate, companion: 2Co.8:23, Phm 17; with dative of person(s), Luk.5:10; with genitive of person(s), Heb.10:33; id. before ἐν, Mat.23:30; (b) a partaker, sharer: with genitive of thing(s), 1Co.10:18 10:20, 2Co.1:7, 1Pe.5:1, 2Pe.1:4 (see Deiss., BS, 368 n2).† (AS)

do yourself receiveπροσλαβοῦproslabouG4355
to take

προσλαμβάνω (proslambanō) προσ-λαμβάνω [in LXX: Psa.18:16 (מָשָׁה hi.), Psa.73:24 (לָקַח), etc. ;] 1. to take in addition. 2. to take to oneself, take, receive; in NT always mid., -ομαι; (a) of things: of food, with accusative, Act.27:33; with genitive part., Act.27:36; (b) of persons: with accusative, Mat.16:22, Mrk.8:32 (see Swete, in l), Act.17:5 18:26 28:2, Rom.14:1, 3 15:7, Phm 17.† (AS)

himαὐτὸνautonG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

asὡςhōsG5613
as/when

ὡς (hōs) ὡς, adverbial form of the relative pron. ὅς, ἥ, ὅ. I. As relat. adv. of manner, as, like as, just as, even as; 1. with a demonstrative, like οὕτως, expressed or understood: οὕτως . . . ὡς, Mrk.4:26, 1Co.3:15, Eph.5:28, Jas.2:12, al.; ὡς . . . οὕτως, Act.8:32, 1Co.7:17, al.; elliptically (sc. οὕτως, οὕτω), with nom., Mat.6:29, al.; with accusative, Mat.19:19, Mrk.12:31, al.; with prep., Mat.26:55, Mrk.14:48, Luk.22:52, Jhn.7:10, al.; with verb., Jhn.15:6, 2Co.3:1, Eph.2:3, 1Th.5:6, al.; with ptcp. (the ptcp. however not having the special force wh. it has in cl.; see Bl., §73, 5; 74, 6), Mat. …

me myself.ἐμέ.emeG1473
I/we

ἐγώ (egō) ἐγώ, genitive, etc., ἐμοῦ, ἐμοί, ἐμέ (enclitic μου, μοι, με), pl. ἡμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς, of person(s) pron. I. (a) The nom. is usually emphatic, when expressed as subjc, as in Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Luk.3:16, al. But often there is no apparent emphasis, as Mat.10:16, Jhn.10:17; ἰδοὺ ἐ. (= Heb. הִנֵּנִי, cf. 1Ki.3:8), Act.9:10; ἐ. (like Heb. אֲנִי), I am, Jhn.1:23 (LXX), Act.7:32 (LXX). …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.