Philemon 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: On the other hand, the adjective applied to Philemon might readily have suggested the same prefix to Apphia. The reading "beloved" seems scarcely grave enough for the dignified reserve which St. Paul never forgets in his tenderest moments. Above all, the word "sister" distinctly adds to the meaning. For it shows that Apphia had embraced the gospel, and was a baptised member of the Church, and thus preserves the line of thought in the sentiments balancing the epithets "fellow worker," "fellow soldier," applied to Philemon and Archippus. (Bp. Lightfoot.) Parallel Verses KJV: And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:WEB: to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: |
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