Who was Apphia in the Bible?

Apphia is a woman mentioned only in the New Testament letter to Philemon, where she is greeted by the Apostle Paul. She is referred to as 'our sister' and was likely a member of Philemon's household, possibly his wife (Philemon 1:2).

Why is Apphia mentioned in the book of Philemon?

Apphia is mentioned because she was a direct recipient of Paul's letter concerning the runaway slave, Onesimus. Her inclusion suggests she held a significant role within the household and was involved in the local church that met there (Philemon 1:2).

What can we learn from Apphia's brief mention?

Apphia's mention highlights the active role women played in the early church, even in domestic settings. It shows that Paul valued her spiritual partnership and considered her integral to resolving the important matter addressed in the letter.

Apphia

New TestamentNew TestamentFemale

Apphia, likely a member of Philemon's household, was one of the recipients of Paul's letter to Philemon.

Apphia

Biography

Apphia is addressed in Philemon 1:2 as one of three recipients of Paul's brief but theologically rich letter, alongside Philemon and Archippus. Paul greets her as "our sister", the Greek adelphe, a designation signaling her standing as a recognized and respected member of the Christian community. The majority of scholars identify Apphia as Philemon's wife, a reasonable inference given that the letter is addressed to the household church that met in Philemon's home. If this identification is correct, Apphia would have been directly affected by Paul's appeal regarding the slave Onesimus, since she co-managed the household and would have played a role in receiving or refusing the returning runaway. Early church tradition in Asia Minor venerated Apphia as a martyr, though this cannot be confirmed from the New Testament text.

Significance

Apphia's inclusion as a named co-recipient of Paul's letter to Philemon carries significant weight for understanding early Christian household structures and the role of women in the Pauline mission. Paul's address to her alongside Philemon suggests she was not a passive bystander but a full partner in the life and decision-making of the house church. Her designation as "sister" places her within the kinship language of the early Christian community, which redefined family bonds around shared faith rather than biological descent. The appeal regarding Onesimus was directed to her as well, making her a participant in the lived-out theology of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the reconfiguration of social relationships in Christ.

Verse Appearances (1)

Philemon

Philemon 1:2

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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