Colossians 4:17

say to Archippus Probably the son of Philemon (cp. Philemon 1:2, and notes, and Lightfoot, Colossians&c., pp. 374, 5). He was apparently an ordained minister in the mission-church, either at Colossæ or (less probably, surely; see on Philemon 1:2) at Laodicea. St Paul, perhaps, had misgivings about his zeal and care, and, without saying as much, aims here at his conscience through his flock. Or, quite possibly, Archippus had been appointed to take the place of Epaphras when Epaphras left for Rome; and this warning bears only on the thought that his work was just beginning. See further below, p. 152. In those simple days such an appeal through the people to the pastor was easy; "lordship over God's heritage" (1 Peter 5:3) was no part of the Apostles" programme of the pastorate.

the ministry] Diaconia;Latin Versions, ministerium. The word in itself has no necessary reference to an ordained"ministry." But the context here makes such a reference at least highly probable; Archippus evidently stood out as a "worker" in a sense quite special and deeply sacred. On the other hand, the reference is probably not to the "diaconate" (Philippians 1:2; 1 Timothy 3:8, &c.) specially. In Laodicea, as in Philippi, there might well be more than one "deacon." And the deacon's office, while sacred and important, was scarcely such as to occasion this solemnity of appeal. Archippus, we believe, was (at least for the time) the chief "pastor and teacher" (Ephesians 4:12) of Colossæ.

which thou hast received Lit. and better, didst receive. Cp. Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5. And for St Paul's own "reception of ministry," and his ideal of it, see Acts 20:24.

in the Lord Pregnant words. It was only as a man in union with Christ that he had "received," and could "fulfil," his ministry.

fulfil it Lit., fill it full; so that his "works should be found filled before God" (Revelation 3:2). No duty of his ministry was to be ignored; he was to "take heed to himself, his doctrine, and his flock" (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 4:16). "A minister of Christ is often in highest honour with men for the performance of one half of his work, while God is regarding him with displeasure for the neglect of the other half" (R. Cecil, quoted by Abp Trench, on Revelation 3:2).