Archippus

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

(Ἄρχιππος)

An office-bearer of the Apostolic Church referred to in  Colossians 4:17 as exercising a ministry ‘in the Lord,’ i.e. in fellowship with, and in the service of, Christ. He is addressed by St. Paul as ‘fellow-soldier’-a designation possibly occasioned by some special service in which the two had been engaged together during St. Paul’s three years’ abode at Ephesus, where the Apostle had severe conflicts with assailants ( 1 Corinthians 15:32). More probably, however, the expression refers to the general fellowship of the two men in evangelistic work (cf.  Philippians 2:25). The military figure may have been suggested by the Apostle’s environment at Rome.

Archippus may have been a presbyter bishop, a leading deacon, an evangelist, or a prominent teacher at the time when St. Paul wrote. From  Philemon 1:2 he appears to have been a member of Philemon’s household, and be is regarded by most commentators (after Theodore of Mopsuestia) as his son. Accordingly, it is generally supposed (after Chrysostom) that Archippus was an office bearer of the Colossian Church. Against this inference Lightfoot adduces (1) the mention of Archippus in Col. immediately after a reference to Laodicea; (2) the alleged unlikelihood of Archippus being addressed in  Colossians 4:17 indirectly instead of directly, if he were himself an official of the Church to which St. Paul was writing; (3) the tradition (embodied in the Apost. Constitutions , vii. 46) that Archippus became ‘bishop,’ or presiding presbyter, of Laodicea. Lightfoot infers that Archippus fulfilled his ministry at Laodicea, which was not many miles from Colossae: and the mention of him in Philem. is accounted for by supposing that St. Paul (through Tychicus, the bearer of his letter to Philemon) might have suggested that Onesimus should be employed not in the city where he had lived as a slave, but in the Laodicean Church under Archippus. The usual supposition, however, that Archippus lived with Philemon at Colossae and also laboured there, appears, on the whole, more natural and probable.

The message conveyed to Archippus (‘Take heed [look] to the ministry,’ etc.) is held by Lightfoot ( Coloss .3 42f.) to imply a rebuke, as if Archippus had been remiss or unfaithful in the discharge of official duty; and Lightfoot, believing that Archippus held office at Laodicea, compares the admonition to him with the censure on account of lukewarmness administered in Revelation 3 to the angel and church of the Laodiceans. The message, however, to Archippus can hardly be regarded as necessarily suggesting more than that his work was specially important and arduous, demanding from himself earnest watchfulness, and from an older ‘fellow-campaigner,’ like St. Paul, the incentive of sympathetic exhortation and warning. Theophylact, in his commentary, supposes that the apostolic message is purposely made public, instead of being conveyed in a private letter, riot so much to suggest Archippus’ special need of admonition, as to enable him, without offence, to deal in like manner with brethren under himself.

In the Greek Martyrology, Archippus appears (in the Menœa under Nov. 22) as having been stoned to death, along with Philemon, at Chonae, near Laodicea. His alleged eventual ‘episcopate’ or presiding presbyterate at Laodicea is at least possible, and even probable; but the inclusion of his name in the pseudo-Dorothean list (6th cent.) of the Seventy of Luke 10 is quite incredible.

Literature.-J. A. Dietelmaier. de Archippo , Altdorf, 1751; J. B. Lightfoot, Colossians 3, 1879, pp. 42f., 308ff.; sea also Literature under Philemon.

Henry Cowan.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

A Christian minister at Colossae, whom Paul calls "our fellow soldier," namely, in the Christian warfare ( 2 Timothy 2:3). A member of Philemon's family, possibly his son, whence Paul includes him in the same salutation with Philemon and Apphia, and the church in Philemon's house ( Philemon 1:2). In both the Epistle to the Colossians ( Colossians 4:17) and that to Philemon (which accompanied it) Archippus is mentioned. The Colossians are charged," Say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill (make full proof of) it." Probably a self sparing and less zealous spirit betrayed itself in Archippus. Laymen may admonish clergy of their duty, when scriptural faithfulness requires it and they admonish in meekness. Martyred, according to tradition, at Chonse, near Laodicea. Archippus with some reason is supposed to be the angel of Laodicea, whom the Lord, like Paul, reproves ( Revelation 3:14-21).

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ARCHIPPUS (  Philippians 1:2 ,   Colossians 4:17 ) was evidently a member of the household of Philemon of Colossæ, probably his son. He shared his spirit, since St. Paul, referring doubtless to his aid in missionary operations in those parts, styles him ‘our fellow-soldier.’ He had been entrusted with some important office in the Church, whether at Colossæ, or, as Lightfoot, in view of the preceding context, more probably supposes, at the neighbouring town of Laodicea; and, considering the spiritual atmosphere of the place (  Revelation 3:14-19 ), one is not surprised that the Apostle should have thought it needful to exhort him to zeal in his ministry.

David Smith.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Archip'pus. (Master Of The Horse). A Christian teacher in Colossae,  Colossians 4:17, called by St. Paul his "fellow soldier,"  Philemon 1:2. He was probably a member of Philemon's family. (A.D. 62).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Saluted by Paul, the Bear's Tail, and denotes a star in the tail of the Great Bear, or constellation Ursa Major. The "sons" of Arcturus are probably the smaller stars adjacent,  Job 9:9;  38:32 .

Morrish Bible Dictionary

A Christian teacher at Colosse, whom Paul calls his fellow soldier, and exhorts to fulfil his ministry.  Colossians 4:17;  Philippians 2 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Colossians 4:17  Philippians 1:2

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Philippians 1:2 Colossians 4:17

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( ῎Αρχιππος , " Master Of the Horse"), a Christian minister, whom the Apostle Paul calls his "fellow-soldier" ( Philemon 1:2), and whom he exhorts to renewed activity ( Colossians 4:17), A.D. 57. As the former epistle, which concerns a private matter, is addressed to him jointly with Philemon and Apphia, and as "the Church in their house" is also addressed, it seems necessary to infer that he was a member of Philemon's family. From the latter reference (so Jerome, Theodoret, and OEcumenius) it would seem that Archippus had exercised the office of evangelist sometimes at Ephesus, sometimes elsewhere (at Laodicea, according to the Apostolical Constitutions, 7:46), and that he finally resided at Colossae, and there discharged the office of presiding presbyter or bishop when Paul wrote to the Colossian Church (see Dietelmaier, De Archippo, Altdorf. 1751). The exhortation given to him in this epistle has, without sufficient grounds, been construed into a rebuke for past negligence. Tradition states that he had been one of Jesus's 70 disciples, and that he suffered martyrdom at Chonae, near Loadicea (Menalog. Graec. 1, 206).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ar - kip´us ( Ἀρχίππος , Archı́ppos ): Addressed by Paul in his letter to Philem, as "our fellow-soldier"; probably a member of Philem's family circle, holding some official position in the church ( Colossians 4:17;  Philippians 1:2 ). See Apphia . The tradition that he was one of the seventy disciples, became bishop of Laodicea and later became a martyr, seems to have little historical foundation.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Archip´pus, a Christian minister, whom St. Paul calls his 'fellow-soldier' in  Philemon 1:2, and whom he exhorts to renewed activity in  Colossians 4:17. From the latter reference it would seem that Archippus had exercised the office of Evangelista sometimes at Ephesus, sometimes elsewhere; and that he finally resided at Colosse, and there discharged the office of presiding presbyter or bishop when St. Paul wrote to the Colossian church.