Archippus

Info

• #coworker #fellow-soldier
• Home:: Colossae
• Other Locales:: None recorded
• References:: Colossians 4#4:17, Philemon 1#1:2

Notes

• Called "fellow soldier" by Paul in Philemon 1#1:2
• Likely associated with the household of Philemon and Apphia

Summary

Archippus appears in two New Testament verses. Both show a man entrusted with ministry responsibility in the Colossian church.

In Philemon 1#1:2, Paul addresses his letter to "Philemon our beloved fellow worker, Apphia our sister, Archippus our fellow soldier (systratiōtēs), and the church in your house." Paul uses "fellow soldier" for only Archippus and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2#2:25). The term carries military overtones: ministry as spiritual combat. Archippus had endured hardship or conflict alongside Paul. His naming with Philemon and Apphia in a personal letter suggests he belonged to Philemon's household, probably as his son, though the text does not specify.

In Colossians 4#4:17, Paul routes a public message through the Colossian congregation: "Say to Archippus, 'See to it that you complete the ministry (diakonia) you have received in the Lord.'" The word diakonia points to a particular assignment but no other details are provided. Given the warm "fellow soldier" in Philemon, this seems to be public encouragement rather than a critique. Archippus may have been a local shepherd among the the Colossian churches.

Archippus represents the next generation of leaders in the Pauline churches: younger equipping servants entrusted with diakonia who needed encouragement and exhortation.

References

• broweleitOut4thPlace2018 - Discusses house church dynamics relevant to Archippus's household-based ministry in Colossae.
• cooperEphesiologyStudyEphesian2020 - Studies the Ephesian church network, which overlaps with Archippus's Colossian context.
• joreStudyChurchHer2022 - Maps Paul's coworker network including Archippus's role in the Colossian house church.
• gilesPatternsMinistryFirst2017 - Examines ministry patterns among early Christians, including the diakonia Archippus received.
• kentPastoralEpistlesStudies2001 - Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles, which reference Archippus's ministry charge.
• hastyWhyMeetHomes2020 - Explores house church practice relevant to the congregation meeting in Philemon and Archippus's home.
• reedBILDEncyclicals2017 - References Archippus within BILD's framework of early church leadership structures.
• Who was Archippus in the Bible? - GotQuestions.org
• Archippus, Fulfill Your Ministry - JesusWalk
• What does Colossians 4:17 mean? - BibleRef.com