In brief
Archippus is a first-century Christian connected with the church that met in Philemon's house, probably in Colossae. Paul calls him our fellow soldier and greets him along with Philemon and Apphia. At the end of the letter to the Colossians, the apostle asks the church to pass on an exhortation: to take heed to the ministry received in the Lord and fulfill it. What we keep is that a service entrusted by God demands vigilance and perseverance.
What does the name Archippus mean?
Archippus is a Greek name, generally linked to the words for ruler and horse, hence the meaning sometimes proposed, master of horses. The Bible does not explain the name (Colossians 4:17; Philemon 2).
The story of Archippus
A church in a house
Philemon 1-2Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, writes with Timothy to Philemon, to our sister Apphia, to Archippus and to the church that meets in Philemon's house. Archippus is therefore part of the circle of this house church. The Bible does not specify his family tie with Philemon and Apphia; one has sometimes been supposed, without certainty.
A fellow soldier
Philemon 2Paul does not present Archippus as a mere member: he calls him our fellow soldier. The expression suggests a shared commitment in the struggle for the gospel, alongside the apostle and Timothy. Archippus therefore took part, in a way the text does not detail, in the demanding work of proclaiming Christ.
Letters read in the churches
Colossians 4:7-16From his imprisonment, Paul sends Tychicus and Onesimus, who is from Colossae, to bring news. He passes on greetings, notably from Epaphras, and asks that his letter also be read in the church of Laodicea. It is within this correspondence, meant to be read publicly, that the apostle slips in a personal message for Archippus.
Take heed to your ministry
Colossians 4:17Paul concludes by asking the church to tell Archippus to see to it that he fulfills the ministry he received in the Lord. The text does not say what this ministry was or why the exhortation was needed. It stresses only that this service comes from the Lord and must be carried through to the end, before the whole church.
What Archippus teaches us
- Every ministry comes from the Lord, and it is before him that it must be fulfilled.
- A committed servant needs to be encouraged and sometimes urged to persevere.
- Receiving a calling is not enough: we must take care to carry it out to the end.
- The local church shares the responsibility of encouraging those who serve it.
Key verses
The exhortation addressed to Archippus before the whole church: the ministry is received in the Lord, and it requires vigilance if it is to be fully carried out.
Paul names Archippus among the recipients of his letter and gives him the title of fellow soldier, a sign of real commitment to the work of the gospel.
The same idea returns in Paul's charge to Timothy to fulfill his ministry. The service entrusted by God is carried out with sober judgment, endurance and faithfulness.
Sermons about Archippus
Frequently asked questions
Who was Archippus in the Bible?
Archippus is a Christian from Philemon's circle, named twice by Paul. In the letter to Philemon he is called our fellow soldier. In Colossians 4:17, Paul tells him to take heed to the ministry received in the Lord. The Bible does not specify his exact role or his relationship to Philemon.
What does the name Archippus mean?
Archippus is a Greek name. It is generally linked to two words meaning ruler and horse, hence the idea of master of horses. The Bible does not comment on the name; it remembers above all his commitment to the gospel and the call to fulfill his ministry faithfully.
Where can I find Archippus in the Bible?
Archippus appears in two letters written by Paul during his imprisonment: in Philemon 2, among the recipients, and in Colossians 4:17, at the very end of the letter. Reading Colossians 4 together with the letter to Philemon helps place this house church and its members.