And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
Parallel translations
- WEB to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
- BSB to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:
- NKJV to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
- NASB and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
- NLT and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul widens his greeting to Apphia, Archippus, and the church meeting in Philemon's home. The whole household and congregation are drawn into a matter often thought purely private.
Overview
Apphia was likely Philemon's wife and Archippus possibly his son or a church leader (compare Colossians 4:17). The "assembly in your house" reflects the early church's practice of meeting in homes. By addressing the gathered believers, Paul gently surrounds Philemon with the loving accountability of the body of Christ as he considers how to receive Onesimus back.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Phil 2:25Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
- Col 4:17And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
- Rom 16:5Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
- Col 4:15Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
- 2 Tim 2:3–4Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
- 1 Cor 16:19The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The plea to receive a runaway slave as a beloved brother, charging his debt to Paul's account, is a living picture of how Christ receives us and pays what we owe.
How Philemon 1:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.