I. Address and Greeting (1-3)

I. Address and Greeting (1-3)

1-3 Paul addresses his letter to Apphia . . . Archippus . . . and the church that meets in your home (v. 2). Apphia was probably Philemon’s wife. Archippus was perhaps their son or maybe the pastor of the church. Regardless, it quickly becomes clear that Paul is writing primarily to Philemon. In the Greek language in which Paul wrote, the instances of “you” and “your” in the body of the letter (vv. 2, 4-21, 23) are singular, not plural. Nonetheless, since it was also addressed to the church that met in Philemon’s house, the congregation would have been listening as it was read. Thus, the principles of forgiveness and reconciliation raised in this personal letter are applicable to the whole church.