Nymphas
Summary
Nymphas was a wealthy and zealous Christian in Laodicea whose house served as a meeting place for the church.
☩Identity and Hospitality
Nymphas was a Christian resident in Laodicea to whom Paul sends greetings in his epistle to the Colossians. He was a person of outstanding worth and importance in the church, for he provided his dwelling-house for the ordinary weekly meetings of the church. The salutation Paul sends is threefold: to the brethren in Laodicea, to Nymphas, and to the church in his house.
☩Textual Question
Some ancient manuscripts read 'her house' instead of 'his house,' which would make Nymphas a woman (Nympha). The Vatican Codex takes the name as feminine, though most Greek fathers knew only the masculine reading. The Alexandrian and Sinaitic manuscripts read 'their house,' which could refer to Nymphas and his family.
Related Verses1 mention
Colossians· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Nymphas," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Nymphas," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).