Nymphas is a biblical figure mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Colossians. The reference to Nymphas is brief, yet it provides insight into the early Christian community and the role of house churches during the apostolic era.

Biblical Reference:

Nymphas is mentioned in Colossians 4:15, where Paul writes: "Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house." . It is important to note that there is some textual variation in ancient manuscripts regarding the gender of Nymphas. Some manuscripts refer to Nymphas as a male, while others suggest a female, Nympha. The Berean Standard Bible opts for the feminine form, "Nympha."

Context and Significance:

The mention of Nymphas highlights the practice of early Christians gathering in private homes for worship, teaching, and fellowship. This was a common practice in the first century, as the early church did not have dedicated buildings for worship. Instead, believers would meet in the homes of fellow Christians who had the means and space to accommodate gatherings. The reference to "the church that meets at her house" indicates that Nymphas was likely a person of some standing and hospitality within the Christian community, providing a venue for the local assembly of believers.

Role in the Early Church:

Nymphas' role as a host of a house church underscores the importance of lay leadership and the active participation of both men and women in the early church. The New Testament contains several examples of women who played significant roles in the ministry and expansion of the early Christian movement, such as Priscilla, Lydia, and Phoebe. Nymphas is part of this tradition, contributing to the growth and sustenance of the church through hospitality and service.

Theological Implications:

The mention of Nymphas in Colossians serves as a reminder of the communal and familial nature of the early church. The house church model fostered close-knit relationships among believers, emphasizing mutual support, accountability, and the sharing of resources. This model also reflects the New Testament's teaching on the priesthood of all believers, where every member of the body of Christ is called to serve and contribute to the life of the church.

Conclusion:

While the biblical account of Nymphas is limited to a single verse, the implications of her role in the early church are significant. Nymphas exemplifies the spirit of hospitality and service that characterized the early Christian communities, and her mention in Paul's letter to the Colossians serves as a testament to the vital role of house churches in the spread of the Gospel during the apostolic age.Nymphas

spouse; bridegroom

Nymphas

A Christian at Laodicea, whom Paul salutes, together with the company of believers wont to worship at his house, Colossians 4:15.

Nymph, saluted by Paul in his Epistle to the Colossians as a member of the church of Laodicea (Colossians 4:15). NYMPHAS

nim'-fas (Numphas; Lachmann, Tregelles (margin), Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek read Numpha, the name of a woman (Colossians 4:15)):

1. A Christian in Laodicea:

A Christian resident in Laodicea, to whom Paul sends salutations in the epistle which he wrote from Rome to the church in Colosse, the latter city being only a very few miles distant from Laodicea. Indeed, so near were they, that Paul directs that the Epistle to the Colossians be read also in Laodicea. Nymphas-or if Nympha be read, then it is a Christian lady who is meant-was a person of outstanding worth and importance in the church of Laodicea, for he had granted the use of his dwelling-house for the ordinary weekly meetings of the church. The apostle's salutation is a 3-fold one-to the brethren that are in Laodicea, that is to the whole of the Christian community in that city, and to Nymphas, and to the church in his house.

2. The Church in His House:

This fact, that the church met there, also shows that Nymphas was a person of some means, for a very small house could not have accommodated the Christian men and women who gathered together on the first day of every week for the purposes of Christian worship. The church in Laodicea-judging not only from the Epistle to the Ephesians, which is really Paul's Epistle to the Laodiceans, and which indicates that the church in Laodicea had a numerous membership, but also from what is said of it in Revelation 3:17 the King James Version-must have been large and influential: "Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." The house of Nymphas, therefore, must have possessed a large room or saloon sufficiently commodious to allow the meeting of a numerous company. Nymphas would he a person both of Christian character and of generous feeling, and of some amount of wealth. Nothing more is known regarding him, as this is the only passage in which he is named.

John Rutherfurd

3564. Numpha -- Nympha, a Christian of Laodicea
... a Christian of Laodicea. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Numpha
Phonetic Spelling: (noom-fas') Short Definition: Nymphas Definition: Nymphas, a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3564.htm - 6k

Colossians iv. 12, 13
... beloved of Paul. Ver.15. "Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas,
and the Church that is in their house.". See how he ...
/.../homily xii colossians iv 12.htm

The Epistle to the Colossians
... Jesus called Justus and Nymphas) known to have been companions or
fellow-laborers of Paul. Yet the Epistle did not go unchallenged. ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the epistle to the colossians.htm

Of the Church
... of the word. Such was the Church in the house of Philemon, and that in the
house of Nymphas, mentioned Col.4:15. A particular Church ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 74 of the church.htm

The Spiced Wine of My Pomegranate;
... Apply atoning blood, and cov'nant love,. Until I see Thy face among the guests.
Who in Thy Father's kingdom feast.". (Nymphas, by JOSEPH IRONS.). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/the spiced wine of my.htm

Christ's Estimate of his People
... It is a favourite book of mine. And there is a sweet little book of Joseph
Irons's, called "Nymphas," a blank verse explanation of it. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/christs estimate of his people.htm

Nymphas (1 Occurrence)
... Nymph, saluted by Paul in his Epistle to the Colossians as a member of the church
of Laodicea (Colossians 4:15). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NYMPHAS. ...
/n/nymphas.htm - 9k

Nympha (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Nympha (1 Occurrence). Colossians 4:15 Greet the brothers
who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house. ...
/n/nympha.htm - 6k

La-odice'a (5 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Colossians 4:15 Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and
Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house. (See RSV). ...
/l/la-odice'a.htm - 7k

Laodicea (6 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). Colossians 4:15 Greet the brothers who
are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house. ...
/l/laodicea.htm - 11k

Especially (23 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV NIV). Colossians 4:15 Christian greetings to the brethren at
Laodicea, especially to Nymphas, and to the Church that meets at their house. ...
/e/especially.htm - 13k

Meets (17 Occurrences)
... (WEY NIV). Colossians 4:15 Christian greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, especially
to Nymphas, and to the Church that meets at their house. (WEY). ...
/m/meets.htm - 11k

Greet (46 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WBS NAS RSV NIV). Colossians 4:15 Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea,
and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house. (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/g/greet.htm - 19k

Laodiceans (2 Occurrences)
... I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea"
(Colossians 2:1): "Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the ...
/l/laodiceans.htm - 28k

Greetings (48 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Colossians 4:15 Christian greetings to the brethren at Laodicea,
especially to Nymphas, and to the Church that meets at their house. ...
/g/greetings.htm - 18k

Salute (48 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEY ASV DBY YLT). Colossians 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea,
and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. (KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/s/salute.htm - 19k

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