Colossians 4:15 kjv
Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Colossians 4:15 nkjv
Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.
Colossians 4:15 niv
Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
Colossians 4:15 esv
Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
Colossians 4:15 nlt
Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
Colossians 4 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| House Churches | ||
| Acts 2:46 | "Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house..." | Early believers gathered daily, including in homes. |
| Acts 5:42 | "And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they continued to teach..." | Apostolic teaching occurred in homes. |
| Acts 12:12 | "...many were gathered together and were praying [in Mary's house]..." | Example of believers meeting in a home for prayer. |
| Rom 16:5 | "Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers... greet also the church that is in their house." | Paul greeting another house church. |
| 1 Cor 16:19 | "The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house." | Paul sending greetings via a house church. |
| Phlm 1:2 | "to our beloved Apphia and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house." | A personal letter addressed to a house church. |
| Christian Greetings/Fellowship | ||
| Rom 16:16 | "Greet one another with a holy kiss." | Command to extend warm, godly greetings. |
| 1 Cor 16:20 | "All the brethren greet you." | Paul's general greeting from fellow believers. |
| 2 Cor 13:13 | "All the saints greet you." | Greetings from all believers present. |
| Phil 4:21 | "Greet every saint in Christ Jesus." | Paul's broad greeting to all believers. |
| 1 Thes 5:26 | "Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss." | Emphasis on unified, affectionate greetings. |
| 1 Pet 5:14 | "Greet one another with a kiss of love." | Apostolic instruction for fellowship. |
| Acts 18:27 | "And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him..." | Early believers offering encouragement. |
| Acts 20:38 | "...sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they would see his face no more." | Farewell with strong emotional bond. |
| Heb 13:24 | "Greet all your leaders and all the saints." | A reminder to greet all in the community. |
| Women's Roles in the Church | ||
| Acts 16:14-15 | "A woman named Lydia... opened her house to us." | Lydia as a host of early Christian gatherings. |
| Rom 16:1-2 | "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church at Cenchreae..." | Phoebe as a deaconess and patron of many. |
| Interconnected Churches/Circulation of Letters | ||
| Col 4:16 | "And when this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you yourselves read the letter from Laodicea." | Explicit instruction to share letters among churches. |
| Rev 1:11 | "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches..." | Divine instruction to send revelation to churches. |
| Fellowship/Communion | ||
| Acts 2:42 | "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." | Foundation of early Christian community life. |
| Eph 2:19 | "...fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household..." | Believers as one family, united in Christ. |
Colossians 4 verses
Colossians 4 15 Meaning
Colossians 4:15 conveys Paul's personal greetings to specific Christian communities and individuals in the Lycus Valley. It directs the believers in Colossae to extend his greetings to the "brethren" (fellow believers) in Laodicea. Furthermore, Paul specifically names Nymphas (likely a woman named Nympha, based on the pronoun "her") and the community of believers who gather for worship and fellowship in their home, indicating the widespread practice of house churches in early Christianity.
Colossians 4 15 Context
Colossians 4:15 is situated within the closing section of Paul's letter to the church at Colossae, specifically as he provides personal greetings and final instructions (Col 4:7-18). Having expounded on theological truths and practical Christian living in the preceding chapters, Paul concludes by demonstrating the deep relational fabric of the early Christian movement. These greetings are not mere pleasantries but affirm the interconnections, mutual care, and spiritual unity among diverse communities and individuals spread across different cities. The explicit mention of the Laodicean church highlights the regional network of believers in the Lycus Valley (Colossae, Hierapolis, Laodicea), suggesting Paul's broader pastoral concern beyond just one congregation. Historically, early Christian gatherings largely took place in private homes due to a lack of public assembly halls, their relatively small size, and, at times, the need for discretion or safety amidst persecution. These house churches formed the fundamental units of Christian community and provided intimate settings for teaching, fellowship, worship, and shared meals.
Colossians 4 15 Word analysis
- Greet (ἀσπάσασθε - aspasasthe): This Greek imperative conveys a warm, affectionate salutation, more than a casual "hello." It denotes extending hospitality, respect, and deep fellowship. Paul frequently uses this term in his closings to signify unity and shared spiritual family among believers.
- the brethren (τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς - tous adelphous): Refers to fellow believers, literally "brothers," but encompassing all members of the Christian community, male and female, who are spiritually united in Christ. It emphasizes a familial bond, reflecting their shared identity as children of God.
- who are in Laodicea (ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ - en Laodikeia): Laodicea was a wealthy, influential city in Asia Minor, known for its financial institutions, black wool, and eye salve (later critiqued for its spiritual lukewarmness in Rev 3:14-22). Its proximity to Colossae (about 11 miles northwest) underscores the close geographical and spiritual network of churches in the Lycus Valley.
- and Nymphas (καὶ Νυμφᾶν - kai Nymphan): This personal name has been subject to scholarly debate regarding gender. While often translated as masculine (Nymphas), the accompanying pronoun "her" (αὐτῆς - autēs) strongly suggests a feminine name (Nympha). If "Nympha" is correct, it highlights the significant role of a woman in hosting a house church, akin to Lydia (Acts 16) or Priscilla (Rom 16).
- and the church that is in her house (καὶ τὴν κατʼ οἶκον αὐτῆς ἐκκλησίαν - kai tēn kat' oikon autēs ekklēsian):
- "the church" (τὴν ἐκκλησίαν - tēn ekklēsian): Refers to the assembly or gathering of believers, not a physical building. It signifies the community of redeemed people called out by God.
- "that is in her house" (κατʼ οἶκον αὐτῆς - kat' oikon autēs): This phrase definitively points to a house church. Before dedicated buildings, Christian communities met in private homes. This practice facilitated intimate fellowship, communal meals, teaching, and prayer, shaping the close-knit nature of early Christian gatherings. The genitive feminine pronoun autēs ("her") links this church unequivocally to the specific person "Nympha," reinforcing her pivotal role as the host.
Colossians 4 15 Bonus section
- The textual variant between Nymphas (masculine) and Nympha (feminine) is found in different ancient manuscripts. However, the consistent use of the feminine pronoun autēs ("her") in Greek for "her house" provides strong linguistic evidence favouring the feminine "Nympha," emphasizing the prominent role women played in providing spaces for early church gatherings.
- This verse directly sets up the instruction in Colossians 4:16 for the letters to be circulated and read among the churches of Colossae and Laodicea, demonstrating an apostolic practice of encouraging inter-church communication and shared doctrine within regional networks.
- While Colossians 4:15 shows a vibrant Christian community in Laodicea, it provides a powerful contrast to the later indictment of the church in Laodicea found in Revelation 3:14-22, where it is rebuked for being lukewarm and self-sufficient. This demonstrates the spiritual fluctuations even in initially strong communities and the continuous need for Christ's fervent presence.
Colossians 4 15 Commentary
Colossians 4:15 encapsulates key characteristics of the early church: its relational depth, organizational structure, and Pauline apostolic oversight. Paul's detailed greetings underscore his personal connection to scattered communities and his pastoral care for individual believers. The mention of "brethren" in Laodicea and specifically "Nymphas and the church in her house" illuminates the vital role of house churches. These private homes served as the primary gathering places for believers, fostering intimate fellowship, communal worship, and teaching. The likelihood that "Nymphas" refers to a woman named Nympha is significant, affirming the crucial, often leadership-oriented, contributions of women as hosts and patrons within the early Christian movement. This verse also implicitly highlights the interconnectedness of churches in a region, anticipating Paul's instruction in the next verse for the Colossians to share this letter with Laodicea and vice versa. It depicts Christianity as a vibrant, interconnected network of communities built on personal relationships and shared commitment to Christ, not primarily on institutional structures or grand buildings. This intimate and decentralized structure allowed the nascent faith to spread and thrive, adapting to various social contexts.