If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
The letter containing this appeal was written while Paul was a chained prisoner under Roman guard on his journey to and arrival in Rome. It is Paul asking Philemon to welcome Onesimus back as he would welcome Paul himself. The appeal rests on Paul and Philemon's partnership in faith and on Onesimus's conversion. By that conversion Onesimus had become a brother in the faith.
He should therefore be welcomed without being treated as a stranger or punished as before. To treat the repentant slave harshly would be like treating Paul himself harshly. The request illustrates Christ's love for the repentant sinner, for as Paul offers to bear and take responsibility for Onesimus's debt, so Jesus interposes for sinners, offers to pay their debt to God, and suffers in their place so they may be spared punishment.
The letter containing this appeal was written while Paul was a chained prisoner under Roman guard on his journey to and arrival in Rome. It is Paul asking Philemon to welcome Onesimus back as he would welcome Paul himself. The appeal rests on Paul and Philemon's partnership in faith and on Onesimus's conversion. By that conversion Onesimus had become a brother in the faith.
He should therefore be welcomed without being treated as a stranger or punished as before. To treat the repentant slave harshly would be like treating Paul himself harshly. The request illustrates Christ's love for the repentant sinner, for as Paul offers to bear and take responsibility for Onesimus's debt, so Jesus interposes for sinners, offers to pay their debt to God, and suffers in their place so they may be spared punishment.