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place. He became a believer under the ministry of the Apostle (Philem. 19) although
under what circumstances is not known, for Paul, at this time, was apparently unknown
by face in Colosse (Col. 2: 1), and there is no record of his having visited the place. The
long sojourn at Ephesus has been suggested as the period during which the event
occurred and this seems most likely.
The appellations predicated of Philemon, "our dearly beloved" (literally "the
beloved"), and "fellow-labourer" are probably to be read together as Moffatt and others,
"our beloved fellow-worker". The word fellow-labourer, sunergos is almost exclusive to
Paul, occurring only in III John 8 outside of his writings, although the verbal form is
used once each by Mark and James. In Mark 16: 20 it is used of the Lord Himself
Who was `working with' the disciples, and in I Cor. 3: 9 of Paul and Apollos
"labourers together with" God. The circumstances which occasioned its use of Philemon
are not known, unless it be the period already referred to at Ephesus. It is certainly
possible that Paul could be using the word to imply "labourers in a common cause", even
though the parties might be in reality miles apart.
"And to our beloved (texts `sister') Apphia" (2).
"Apphia the sister" (R.V. margin) would appear to have been the wife of Philemon,
who being the mistress of the house would naturally be involved in the reception of a
runaway slave. Indeed Bishop Lightfoot writes:
"The letter introduces us to an ordinary household in a small town in Phrygia. Four
members of it are mentioned by name, the father, the mother, the son, and the slave"
(Introduction to Philemon).
He evidently refers to Philemon as the father, Apphia as the mother, Archippus as the
son and Onesimus as the slave, which is certainly a possibility. Whether Archippus (2)
was the son or no, he would certainly seem to have been a member or friend of the
family circle.
"and Archippus our fellowsoldier" (2).
This man has one other mention in Scripture, in Col. 5: 17:
"And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the
Lord, that thou fulfil it."
The word translated "take heed", blepo is rendered `beware' in the same epistle (2: 8)
and is evidently intended as a warning. What the `ministry' was, and why the church was
to be responsible for relating Paul's words rather than the apostle himself, can only be a
matter of conjecture. The words, "the ministry . . . . . that thou fulfil it" are reminiscent
of Acts 12: 25:
"And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their
ministry."
Here the ministry is known, for it concerned the sending of "relief unto the brethren
which dwelt in Judaea" (Acts 11: 29), a special mission, rather than a continuous service.