Colossians 4:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Take heed, he says, that you fulfill the ministry which you have received in the Lord. He does not allow him to be a lord, just as he said of himself, For if I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship (1 Cor 9:17). That you fulfill the ministry means constantly applying your care.

Which you have received in the Lord. Here again, in the Lord means the same as through the Lord. He, that is, laid this duty upon you, not we. And he subjects them to him, showing that he was given to them by God Himself.

What work is this? To watch over the Colossians and care for them. The Apostle gives two exhortations with the one phrase in the Lord. He makes Archippus more careful to fulfill his ministry as the work of the Lord. He also disposes them to submit to him more willingly, showing that they have been given into his hands by God.

Certainly the Apostle writes to them, Say to Archippus, so that when he begins to reprove them, they may not be able to accuse him as a man who fills them with bitterness. They will know that such a command was given him by Paul, and that their own mouths conveyed to Archippus what Paul had earlier declared to him. Thus he did this to stop their mouths. Paul acted very wisely, since in any case it is improper for disciples to discuss the affairs of the teacher.

Then follow commissions and instructions. The Epistle to the Colossians is to be read also in the Laodicean church. The one from Laodicea is also to be read by the Colossians. Archippus, the head of the Colossian church after Epaphras, is to be given an apostolic reminder about zealous fulfillment of his pastoral duties (Col 4:16-17). Finally comes the concluding note in the Apostle Paul's own hand: Remember my bonds. Grace be with you all. Amen.

According to blessed Theophylact's explanation, the Apostle gives two exhortations with the one phrase in the Lord. He makes Archippus more careful to fulfill his ministry as the work of the Lord. He also disposes them to submit to him more willingly, showing that they have been given into his hands by God. According to Photius, Archippus was bishop of Colossae after Epaphras. His memory is on February 19 and November 22.

Concerning the writing from Laodicea, St. John Chrysostom observes: Some rightly maintain that here the meaning is not Paul's Epistle to the Laodiceans, but their Epistle to Paul. For he did not say, the letter written to the Laodiceans, but says, the letter written from Laodicea.

A more recent interpreter of ours, N. Mukhin, regards the writing from Laodicea as Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians. One may say that the circumstances in which these Epistles were written coincide. Yet one cannot fail to wonder why such an opinion is not shared by the ancient interpreters, beginning with John Chrysostom, blessed Theodoret, and Theophylact, who supposes that the First Epistle to Timothy is meant here. Bishop Theophan says, Without forcing the text, one cannot suppose that the Epistle of St. Paul to the Laodiceans is meant here. It is either the Epistle of the Laodiceans to St. Paul, or an Epistle of St. Paul from Laodicea, written by him to someone or somewhere. One may suppose that someone from Laodicea wrote to St. Paul, describing the calamity threatening the Laodicean and Colossian churches from false teachers. This letter was handed by him to Tychicus, so that he might give it to the Colossians to read for the explanation of his own Epistle.

By this last expression it is best to understand the Epistle to Philemon, and for the following reasons. Among the instructions relating to Laodicea, and in verse 17, the Apostle gives the Colossians an instruction concerning Archippus, who was related to Philemon (Phlm 1:2). Therefore Archippus and Philemon should be considered inhabitants of Laodicea. This is all the more likely because the Apostle would not have needed to address Archippus through the Colossians if Archippus himself had been a Colossian. If the mention of the letter from Laodicea brought Archippus, Philemon's relative, to the Apostle's mind, how else can this association be explained, unless we suppose that by this letter he means his own Epistle to Philemon?

For the Colossians, the Epistle to Philemon was indeed of the greatest interest. It concerned their fellow citizen Onesimus, who had formerly been enslaved to Philemon, and who now appeared in Colossae as a teacher of the faith. As for the instruction the Apostle gives the Colossians concerning Archippus, to remind him faithfully to fulfill the duty he had undertaken, it was probably occasioned by the appearance of false teachers. Then the Apostle writes a greeting to the Colossians in his own hand and urges them to remember his bonds, certainly so that they would not forget the Apostle in their prayers.

Say to Archippus. St. Chrysostom and blessed Theophylact ask, Why does he not write to him? Probably there was no need, and such a slight reminder was enough to make him more zealous in ministry and them more obedient to him. Ambrosiaster says, Through the people themselves he exhorts their presiding minister to care more for their salvation. Since the Epistle was written because of the needs of the flock, the Apostle directed it to the Church and not to its pastor. Blessed Theophylact, from St. Chrysostom, says, Certainly the Apostle writes to them, Say to Archippus, so that, when he begins to reprove them in something, they may have no ground to murmur against him as a burdensome man who fills them with bitterness. They will know that such a command was given him by St. Paul, and that their own mouths conveyed to Archippus what Paul requires of him in relation to them. Thus, to stop their mouths, Paul acted very wisely by saying, Say to Archippus. Even apart from this, everyone knows that it is improper for disciples to discuss the affairs of the teacher.

Take heed, βλεπε, means watch. St. Chrysostom and blessed Theophylact say, This is everywhere the voice of one who alarms and warns. Thus he says, Beware of dogs (Phil 3:2); Beware lest anyone deceive you (Col 2:8); Take heed lest this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak (cf. 1 Cor 8:9). In general, the Apostle always speaks this way when he wishes to warn or alarm. So also here.

Take heed to the ministry, διακονιαν. Ambrosiaster says, After Epaphras, who watered the Colossians with the truths of the faith, the governance of the Church was laid upon Archippus, and he received it. Photius, in Oecumenius, says, Perhaps he was their bishop, or he bore some other ministry in the work of saving souls.

Which you have received in the Lord. St. Chrysostom says, In the Lord means through the Lord. He, that is, laid this duty upon you, not we. That you may fulfill it means holding zealous care for it day and night. Blessed Theophylact says, See that you fulfill properly the work received by you from the Lord. What work is this? To watch over the Colossians and care for them. The Apostle gives two exhortations with the one phrase in the Lord. He makes him more careful to fulfill his ministry as the work of the Lord. He also disposes them to submit to him more willingly, showing that they have been given into his hands by God.

According to tradition, Archippus was bishop in Colossae after Epaphras. He suffered there from the governor of Ephesus in the reign of Nero. His memory is on February 19 and November 22.