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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Phm_1:17-20
17If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). 20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
Phm_1:17-18 "if" There are two first class conditional sentences which are assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes. Philemon was Paul's friend and Onesimus did wrong him (cf. Phm_1:18).
▣ "a partner" This is the term koinônus, which is a form of the term koinônia "to share in common with," "to be associated with" or "to be party to." Paul uses it to refer to a financial contribution (cf. Php_4:15). Therefore it may be a wordplay relating to Paul's friendship (Phm_1:19) and Onesimus' bill (Phm_1:17).
▣ "accept him as you would me" Paul's statement may have derived from Jesus' words in Mat_25:44-45 or Paul's experience with Jesus on the road to Damascus (cf. Act_9:4). By persecuting Christians, Paul was persecuting Christ. By accepting Onesimus, Philemon was accepting Paul. True love is wonderfully corporate and reciprocal. We show our love for God by how we love one another (cf. 1Jn_2:9; 1Jn_2:11; 1Jn_4:20).
Phm_1:18 The implication of the grammar of Phm_1:18 is that Onesimus did steal from Philemon (first class conditional sentence), that Onesimus did owe Philemon (present active indicative), and that Paul pled with Philemon to put the charge to Paul's account (present active imperative).
Phm_1:19 "I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand" Apparently Paul used scribes to write for him (cf. Tertius in Rom_16:22), probably because of his eye problems (cf. Gal_4:15; Gal_6:11), possibly caused at his conversion experience (cf. Act_9:8; Act_9:18; Act_22:11; Act_26:13). However there may have been some forged letters claiming to be written by Paul which circulated among the churches (cf. 2Th_3:17). Therefore, Paul took the pen and wrote the last few verses himself (cf. 1Co_16:21; Gal_6:11; Col_4:18; 2Th_3:17; Phm_1:19).
▣ "you owe to me even your own self as well" This strongly implies that Paul led Philemon to faith in Christ. When and where is uncertain, for Paul did not start the church at Colossae. The best guess is that Philemon, like Epaphras, was saved during Paul's two-year revival at Ephesus (cf. Act_19:10; Act_19:20).
Phm_1:20 This verse is similar to Rom_1:12. How we live as Christians encourages and refreshes other believers.