‏ Philemon 2

Verse 2. APPHIA. απφια. Under the word απφα Suidas says: αδελφηςκαιαδελφουυπακορισμα. Appha is the affectionate address of a brother or sister; or the diminutive of a brother and sister, used to express kindness and affection. Hence the apostle, referring to the meaning of the word, says: καιαπφιατη αδελφηαγαπητη. And to Apphia the beloved sister. Though αδελοη sister, be not in our common text, it is found in AD*EFG, several others, the Itala, Vulgate, Slavonic, &c.; and is undoubtedly genuine.

ARCHIPPUS, αρχιπηος. The ruler or master of the horse; from αρχων, a chief, and ιππος, a horse. HEROES of old were, both among the Greeks and Trojans, celebrated for their skill in managing and taming the horse, and employing him in war; this frequently occurs in Homer. The import of the name of Archippus might suggest this idea to the apostle's mind, and lead him to say: Archippus our FELLOW SOLDIER.

Suidas mentions a person of this name, who was once victor at the games, in the ninety-first Olympiad.

There was one of the pupils of Pythagoras of this name; and I introduce him here for the sake of a quotation from St. Jerome, (Apol. adv. Ruffin.,) relative to the doctrines taught by him and his fellow disciple, Lysis: φευκτεονπανταπασικαιεκκοπτεον ασθενειανμεντουσωματοςαπαιδευσιανδετηςψυχηςακολασιανδε τηςγαστροςστασινδετηςπολεωςτηνδεδιαφωνιαναποτης οικιαςκαικοινηαποπαντωντοακρατες. "By all means and methods these evils are to be shunned and cut off: effeminacy from the body; IGNORANCE from the soul; delicacies from the belly; sedition from the city; discord from the house; and, in general, intemperance from all things." Vid. FAB. Thes. Erud. Schol.

ONESIMUS, ονησιμος. Useful or profitable; from ονημι, to help. The import of this name led the apostle to play upon the word thus: I beseech thee for any son Onesimus-which in time past was to thee UNPROFITABLE, but now PROFITABLE to thee and me.

To the Church in thy house] The congregation of Christians frequently assembling in Philemon's house; for at this time the Christians had neither temples, churches, nor chapels. See Clarke on Ro 16:5, and the reference there.

It is very probable that Apphia was the wife of Philemon, and Archippus, their son, the pastor of the Church at Philemon's house.

‏ Philemon 11

Verse 11. Was to thee unprofitable] Alluding to the meaning of Onesimus's name, as has been already noted; though the apostle uses a different Greek word to express the same idea.

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