Archippus
Ἄρχιππος/ar-KIP-us/
“Master of horses or chief horseman”
Summary
A Christian leader at Colossae whom Paul exhorted to fulfill his ministry, possibly a pastor or elder in the church.
☩Fellow Soldier
Archippus is addressed in Paul's letter to Philemon as a 'fellow soldier,' indicating his active service in Christian ministry. He is named alongside Philemon and Apphia, suggesting he may have been their son or a close associate. In Colossians, Paul sends a specific message urging him to 'take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.' This suggests he held some ministerial office in the church and perhaps needed encouragement to persevere.
Key verses:Philemon 1:2Colossians 4:17
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Archippus," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Archippus," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).