Apphia Ἀπφία
Recipient of Paul's letter to Philemon
Who is Apphia in the Bible?
Apphia was a fellow believer and likely member of Philemon's household who received Paul's letter to Philemon (Philemon 1:2). Paul addresses her as "our sister," indicating her status as a Christian and suggesting she may have been Philemon's wife, though this is not explicitly stated in Scripture. She appears in this letter because Paul wanted to emphasize the communal nature of his appeal regarding Onesimus, a formerly enslaved person who had become a Christian and was being sent back to his master. By including Apphia and Archippus among the recipients, Paul ensured that the entire household understood his request to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother in Christ rather than merely as property. Though she is mentioned only briefly in Scripture, Apphia's inclusion demonstrates the significant role women played in early Christian communities and household churches.
Biography
Apphia is mentioned in the opening of Paul's letter to Philemon as one of the recipients of the letter, along with Philemon and Archippus. Paul addresses her as "our sister," indicating that she was a fellow believer and likely a member of Philemon's household. Some scholars suggest that Apphia may have been Philemon's wife, but this is not explicitly stated in the text.
The letter to Philemon is a personal appeal from Paul regarding Onesimus, a runaway slave who had become a Christian under Paul's ministry. Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon, his master, with this letter, urging Philemon to receive Onesimus back not as a slave, but as a beloved brother in Christ. By addressing the letter to Apphia and Archippus as well, Paul emphasizes the communal nature of the request and the shared responsibility of the Christian community in welcoming Onesimus. Beyond this mention in the letter to Philemon, no further details about Apphia's life or role in the early church are provided in the Bible.
In Scripture
1 biblical bookPhilemon 1 verse
- Philemon 1:2
"to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Ἀπφία |
Apphia
of his household, greeted as "the sister" the Revised Version, margin. In the Greek church, November 22 is sacred to her memory. It has been supposed, since this epistle concerns one household exclusively, that Apphia was Philemon's wife and the mother or sister of Archippus (which see). She was stoned to death with Philemon, Onesimus, and Archippus in the reign of Nero. (See Lightfoot, Col., 372.)
af'-us, ap'-fus: A name borne by Jonathan, the fifth son of Mattathias (Apphous, 1 Macc 2:5). All the brothers, according to this passage, had double names; John is said to have been called Gaddis; Simon, Thassi; Judas