2

to Apphia…Archippus…the church: Paul included these people’s names in the list of the people he was greeting, but he wrote the letter mainly to Philemon. Beginning at verse 4, Paul wrote directly to Philemon. Even if your translation addresses Philemon in the second person (“to you, Philemon”), perhaps you should refer to these people in the third person. For example, “We send greetings to Apphia…,” or “Give our greetings to Apphia….”

2a

sister: Paul also greeted Apphia. The phrase “Apphia our sister” means that Apphia was a believer in Christ as Paul was. She did not have the same father or mother as Paul and Philemon. See the note on “brother” in verse 1b.

2b

fellow soldier: Paul also greeted Archippus. The phrase Archippus our fellow soldier implies that Archippus spoke out bravely for Christ when people were against the Good News, like a soldier fights to protect his country. (Colossians 4:17, 1 John 2:14) But there is nothing to indicate that Archippus was a soldier in any earthly army.

2c

church: Paul also greeted the believers that met in Philemon’s house. They met together with Philemon regularly to worship the Lord. Christians didn’t have church buildings in those days. They met in homes. See “church”, sense 1 in Key Biblical Terms.

your house: This refers to Philemon’s home.

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