Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen. (Col 4:15–18).
Final Instructions
Paul instructed the Colossians to share this letter with the church in Laodicea. This tells us that the two churches must have been close to each other. In ancient times, the distance between Colossae and Laodicea was about 10 miles (16 kilometres).
Laodicea was located on a major trade route, which would have made it a hub of commerce and cultural exchange. As a result, it is possible that the church in Laodicea had connections to other churches in the region, including Colossae. If you were to walk from Colossae to Laodicea, the time would depend on the terrain, weather, and physical condition. But, assuming a moderate pace of around 3 miles (5 kilometres) per hour, it would take about 3-4 hours to walk that distance. If you were travelling by horse, which was less common in ancient times, assuming a moderate pace of around 8-10 miles (13-16 kilometres) per hour, it would take approximately 1-2 hours to travel.
While the relationship between the churches in Laodicea and Colossae is not explicitly spelled out in the New Testament, the evidence suggests that they were likely connected in some way and that others likely shared the issues facing one church in the region.
Who was Archippus?
Archippus is mentioned in the New Testament in Colossians 4:17, Philemon 1:2, and Philemon 1:10-11. From these references, Archippus was a member of the early Christian community and had some leadership or ministry responsibility. In Colossians 4:17, Paul tells the Colossians to "Tell Archippus: 'See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.'" This suggests that Archippus had been given a specific ministry role within the Christian community, though it is unclear what that role was. In Philemon 1:2, Archippus is mentioned along with other believers who were part of the church that met in the house of Philemon, a prominent Christian in Colossae. And in Philemon 1:10-11, Paul asks Philemon to "refresh my heart in Christ" and reminds him that "your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people. And so has Archippus." From these references, Archippus was a respected member of the early Christian community who had a ministry role of some kind, though the exact nature of that role is not clear.
Who was Nymphas?
An interesting thing to note is the translation difference between Nymphas as male or female. The NKJV and KJV both refer to Nymphas as male: “Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.” The NLT translates the phrase thus “Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters* at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. (Col 4:15). NLT
Biblical scholars have different opinions on whether Nymphas was a man or a woman, as the name could be either masculine or feminine in Greek. Some scholars have suggested that Nymphas may have been a wealthy benefactor who provided a large enough home for the church to meet in, while others have speculated that Nymphas may have been a leader or elder of the house church.
Nymphas is mentioned only once in the New Testament, in Colossians 4:15, From this brief mention, it is not clear who Nymphas was, except that he or she was a Christian who hosted a house church in Laodicea.
Meeting in Houses
In the New Testament, several references suggest that early Christian communities met in houses, rather than in dedicated church buildings. For example, in the letters of Paul, he greets several "house churches" by name, such as the church in the house of Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:3-5) and the church in the house of Nymphas (Colossians 4:15). In Philemon 1:2, Archippus is mentioned along with other believers who were part of the church that met in place of Philemon, a prominent Christian in Colossae.
Other passages also suggest that early Christians gathered in private homes for worship, such as in Acts 2:46, which describes how believers "broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.
Concluding our Study in Colossians
As we conclude our study in the letter to the Colossians, let us remember the importance of community and connection within the early Christian church. We see evidence of this in the greetings and salutations Paul sends to various individuals and house churches in Colossae and Laodicea. The fact that believers would gather in homes for worship and fellowship underscores the value they placed on relationships and support from one another.
Let us also take heed of Paul's final instructions to Archippus, to fulfill the ministry he had received in the Lord. As we each have unique gifts and callings within the body of Christ, let us strive to use them to the best of our abilities and for the glory of God.
Finally, let us not forget those suffering for their faith, as Paul reminds us to remember his chains. May we be inspired to pray for and support our worldwide brothers and sisters facing persecution and hardships?
May the grace of our Lord be with us all, as we continue to grow in our faith and knowledge of Him. Amen.
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