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Philemon 1:2
2 And [kai] to our beloved [agapetos] Apphia [Apphia], and [kai] Archippus [Archippos] our [hemon] fellowsoldier [sustratiotes], and [kai] to the church [ekklesia] in [kata] thy [sou] house [oikos]: KJV-Interlinear
2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: NASB
Paul mentions several names in the opening of this letter. Apphia is a woman who is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. Her name means productive or fruitful.
Archippus is only mentioned one other time in Col. 4:17, where Paul implies that he has some form of teaching capacity or ability, such as a preacher or pastor type of role.
Philemon is the owner of slaves, so he is obviously a wealthy man. Poor men do not own slaves.
So, the picture drawn here is one of a wealthy man, a Christian, who has made his home available to others for the purpose of assembling in the study of the scriptures.
Apphia is a productive person, and productivity means doing or accomplishing something. And since our context here is one of spiritual (we are studying the Bible), then she most likely has an active role within their local study group or church. Also, she is most likely a mature believer, or one who is productive within her spiritual life, which is obvious to Paul as well as others. Archippus may be the man who teaches the scriptures to the group.
And one more thing before we get to far along. This letter was written in behalf of Onesimus who is the slave that ran away. Philemon could have pursued him, and prosecuted him, and had him executed, but he did none of these things.
Likewise, Paul only knows about Onesimus because somewhere along the line, Onesimus told Paul his story and predicament. Paul would not have written this letter without speaking with Onesimus first. Onesimus certainly wanted to resolve his problem with Philemon. Remember that Paul is in prison. Onesimus had to have been interested in Christianity (from Philemon’s home) in order to have found Paul.
Philemon certainly had a good reputation since his runaway slave still had respect for him. Under any other circumstance other slaves, once they had runaway, would try to stay away. Other masters would pursue their slaves and make them an example so that others would not do the same.
You have to read this letter within the context of the time in which it was written, too. Slavery was an accepted system back then. And whether you agree with it or not, your beliefs are irrelevant as to how things were done nearly 2000 years ago.
Even if you disagree with slavery, back then, it was probably the only means of having a life for many people who did not have the means or resources to make a living. In addition, in that respect, people were blessed if they at least had a good master to serve.
Even if ones physical life is restricted, ones mind can never be restrained. Bible doctrine is always available to anyone who has the ears and eyes to hear and learn. Anyone can grow up spiritually regardless of their circumstances. And in this life, your spiritual status is far more important than your social standing.
