See in Reader
888 B
888 B
Philemon, our dear friend ... Apphia our sister ... Archippus our fellow soldier
The word "our" here refers to Paul and those with him but not to the reader. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive)
Apphia our sister
Here "sister" means she was a believer, and not a relative. Alternate translation: "Apphia our fellow believer" or "Apphia our spiritual sister" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)
Archippus
This is the name of a man in the church with Philemon. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)
our fellow soldier
Paul speaks here of Archippus as if they were both soldiers in an army. He means that Archippus works hard, as Paul himself works hard, to spread the gospel. Alternate translation: "our fellow spiritual warrior" or "who also fights the spiritual battle with us" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)