Charles Ellicott Commentary Philemon 1:17

"If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself." — Philemon 1:17 (ASV)

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 1 Peter 5:1), it is found nowhere else, except in 2 Corinthians 8:23. In that passage, 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 ; 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, section 2.)