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Philemon 2 – Apphia and Archippus
V.2 – Apphia and Archippus
According to Chrysostom, Apphia was Philemon’s wife. Textually this is suggested because of the location of her name immediately following his. All that is certain about Apphia is that she was a Christian (lit. “the sister”). This is the only time she is mentioned in scripture.
Archippus is supposed by some to be Philemon’s son due to the implication he lived in Philemon’s house as suggested by the order of names. Also suggested is that he was a minister or an elder. All we are certain of is he was a servant (diakonos) to the Lord (Col.4:17); but uncertain as what type. Is Archippus a preacher as suggests Lightfoot? If so, then his being addressed is the only occurrence where a preacher is addressed in a salutation (excluding of course letters written to evangelists). Doubtful it is that he was a bishop as there is always a plurality of elders in N.T. churches. It is possible he resided in Laodicea (Col.4:17), Colossae (if Colossae is Philemon’s home), or Hierapolis. All three are close and are mentioned in the Colossian letter. It is possible Archippus preached in each city as a diakonos akin to the circuit riders of our 19th century.
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