to Apphia our sister
The name "Apphia" is believed to be of Phrygian origin, suggesting that she was likely a member of the local community in Colossae. The term "our sister" indicates her close relationship with the early Christian community, emphasizing the familial bonds that transcended biological ties. In the Greek, "sister" (ἀδελφή, adelphē) is used to denote a spiritual kinship, highlighting the unity and equality among believers. This phrase underscores the important role women played in the early church, participating actively in the ministry and fellowship.

to Archippus our fellow soldier
"Archippus" is addressed as "our fellow soldier," a metaphorical expression that Paul often uses to describe the Christian life as a spiritual battle. The Greek word for "fellow soldier" (συστρατιώτης, systratiōtēs) conveys a sense of camaraderie and shared mission. Archippus is also mentioned in Colossians 4:17, where Paul encourages him to fulfill his ministry. This suggests that Archippus held a position of responsibility within the church, possibly as a leader or teacher. The military imagery reflects the discipline, commitment, and perseverance required in the Christian faith.

and to the church that meets at your house
The phrase "the church that meets at your house" provides insight into the early Christian practice of gathering in private homes for worship and fellowship. The Greek word for "church" (ἐκκλησία, ekklēsia) originally referred to an assembly or gathering, and in the New Testament, it denotes the community of believers. House churches were common in the first century due to the lack of formal church buildings and the need for intimate, supportive environments. This setting fostered close relationships and allowed for personal discipleship and accountability. The mention of a house church also highlights the hospitality and generosity of Philemon, who opened his home for the service of the Gospel.

(2) Apphia.--The name is usually taken to be the Roman name Appia. But the occurrence of such a name in a Graeco-Asiatic family, though of course possible, is perhaps improbable; and Dr. Lightfoot has shown that it occurs in the form Apphia in many Phrygian inscriptions, and may therefore be naturally supposed to be a native name. There seems little doubt that Apphia was Philemon's wife, like himself "the beloved," though not the "fellow-labourer" or "partner" of St. Paul.

Archippus our fellow soldier.--From this mention of Archippus we may certainly conclude that he was a member of Philemon's family; the ordinary conjecture makes him his son. The name "fellow-soldier," applied elsewhere only to Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25), as the name "soldier of Jesus Christ" to Timothy (2Timothy 2:3), appears to denote ministerial office in Archippus, which agrees with the charge to him in Colossians 4:18 to "take heed to his ministry and fulfil it."

Church in thy house.--See Note on Colossians 4:15. The specially domestic and personal character of the Epistle need not induce any limitation of the phrase to Philemon's own family. As the joining of Timothy's name in giving the salutation did not prevent the Letter from being St. Paul's only, so the joining the Church in the house in the receiving of the salutation does not prevent its being addressed only to Philemon and his family, who were, like himself, interested in Onesimus.

Verse 2. - Our beloved Apphia. Codices A, D*, E*, F, G, and א (Sinaiticus) read adelphe (sister) for agapete (beloved), and also Jerome, Griesbach, Meyer; which also has been adopted in the Revised Version. The name Appia, or Apphia, is either the Roman Appia Hellenized, which was the conjecture of Grotins (see Introduction), or more probably a native Phrygian name, from Appa or Appha, a term of endearment. The name does not occur elsewhere in Scripture. The word ἀδελφῆ is not unlikely to have been added by way of explanation. St. Paul has used it in five other places, and always in the same sense, viz. Romans 16:1, 15; 1 Corinthians 7:15; 1 Corinthians 9:5; 1 Timothy 5:2. Most commentators, and particularly Chrysostom, Theodoret, and Theophylact, among the ancients, infer that Apphia was the wife of Philemon. Otherwise, why mention her name here? Archippus; comp. Colossians 4:17, where he is said to have received a διακονία, i.e. a ministry or service, in the Church. This word, when used without a determining genitive, denotes service to others in a general and undefined sense. But more commonly with some limiting word; as διακονία λόγου, office of teaching (Acts 6:4); διακονία τοῦ θανάτου, office or function of death (2 Corinthians 3:7). The general view is that Archippus was the presbyter who ministered to that congregation which assembled at the house of Philemon, though Ambrose and Jerome, with other commentators ancient and modern, think that he was the bishop. Grotius, however, takes him to have been a deacon. (It is a very precarious inference that he was a son of Philemon and Appia.) Probably he was fulfilling a temporary mission only in Colossae, and that would be the διακονία in the passage cited. Epaphras, a resident in Colossae (Colossians 4:12), is spoken of as having been the founder of the Church there (Colossians 1:7, 8), and as still being responsible for it (Colossians 4:13). Primasius calls Epaphras bishop and Archippus deacon; and so Grotius. It may be that these theories err in ascribing too rigid and technical a meaning to the terms of ecclesiastical service at this early stage of their employment. Epaphras was, however, at this time in Rome with St. Paul (Colossians 4:12, 13), and it is possible that Archippus was filling his place temporarily. It will be safer to call him (with Bishop Wordsworth) a presbyter. It is, as we have said, an unsupported idea of some writers ancient and modern (Theod. Mopsuest., Michaelis, Rosenmuller, Olshausen, Lightfoot) that he was the son of Philemon (but see below). Our fellow-soldier; i.e. of himself and St. Timothy, as engaged in the same warfare for Christ (1 Corinthians 9:7; 2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Timothy 1:18). The same term is applied in Philippians 2:25 to Epaphroditus, and also the συνεργός of Ver. 1. And to the Church in thy house. Mede (so Chrysostom and Theodoret also) understands this as meaning "and to the whole of thy family" (which is a Christian one) - a suggestion quite worth considering. For a separate letter "to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colossae" (Colossians 1:2) was brought by the same messengers, and it would seem natural that, in a matter so personal to Philemon, salutations should be confined to his own family. The phrase is used more than once (see Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19, which seems rather to point the other way; but especially Colossians 4:15, "Nymphas and the Church which is in his house," which, since it was in Colossae itself, seems almost conclusive for that meaning). The Ecclesia domestica was very familiar in the apostolic times. Theodoret states that the house of Philemon was still pointed out as late as the fifth century.

Parallel Commentaries ...


to Apphia
Ἀπφίᾳ (Apphia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 682: Probably of foreign origin; Apphia, a woman of Collosae.

our
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sister,
ἀδελφῇ (adelphē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 79: A sister, a woman (fellow-)member of a church, a Christian woman. Fem of adephos; a sister.

to Archippus
Ἀρχίππῳ (Archippō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 751: Archippus, a Christian of Colossae. From arche and hippos; horse-ruler; Archippus, a Christian.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

fellow soldier,
συστρατιώτῃ (systratiōtē)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4961: A fellow soldier (in the Christian faith). From sun and stratiotes; a co-campaigner, i.e. an associate in Christian toil.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

to the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

church
ἐκκλησίᾳ (ekklēsia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1577: From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation.

[that meets] at
κατ’ (kat’)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

house:
οἶκόν (oikon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3624: A dwelling; by implication, a family.


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NT Letters: Philemon 1:2 To the beloved Apphia to Archippus our (Phm Phl)