Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
Summary: The mention of Nympha and the “church in her house” opens the door to considering other women of renown who served the Lord in different ways.
As we find our way through the last few verses of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we have found several that are “greetings” from Paul and his associates to specific people. In this passage, we focus on the “brothers and sisters at Laodicea” and on a woman named Nympha who hosts a church in her home.
The mention of Nympha is a good reminder to focus on the role of women in the early church.
There is no denying that the Bible describes different roles for men and women. Yet, women serve important roles from the very beginning of Genesis to the last book, Revelation. Yet, it is a mistake to make generalizations about God’s love for us as individuals based on our assigned roles.
For example, in Luke’s Gospel, he notes how women supported Jesus’ ministry:
“Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” (Luke 8:2-3)
Luke also describes a woman Paul met in Philippi who was successful in business and influential in the community:
“One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.” (Acts 16:14-15)
Pricilla, the wife of Aquila, worked to spread the Gospel and supported Paul in his ministry (Acts 18:2-3, 18, 26). There are many others we could mention.
Hosting a church in one’s home is no small thing. If we know nothing else about Nympha, we know that she loved the Lord and served him by providing a meeting place for the brothers and sisters in the Lord who worshiped at her house. For Paul to mention her specifically in his letter suggests that the church at her home was longstanding and substantial.
Application: No matter what our role in life, we all have the ability to serve our Lord.
Food for Thought: What would a house church have been like in Paul’s day?
What would a house church have been like in Paul’s day?
Acts 12:12,16:40, Romans 16:3-5, 1 Corinthians 14:26-27, Hebrews 10:24-25, Colossians 4:15 speak to home churches during Pauls time.
The majority of homes recorded were of women. Home churches were places of communal worship and prayer, encouragement, singing hymns, giving and receiving words of instruction, revelation, building up the church, speaking and interpreting words of tongue, spurring one another toward love and good deeds.
Great verses, Ron!
I especially like Hebrews 10: 24 —
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…“
I think we get a glimpse in the book of Acts.
Acts 2: 42 – 44: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common.
I am not sure they were that different than us. They seemed to pay attention to the reading and teaching of Scripture. They prayed together (see also Acts 4: 23 – 31). We know they sang hymns and songs (Ephesians 5: 19 – 20). They practiced fellowship. They certainly spent a lot of time together when the church first started. More than what we do. But I am not convinced that the services were all that different from what we see today.
Thank you, Rich!
I’ve always appreciated how you hold to the biblical model!
I think all I would be able to offer is speculation other than what the Bible offers:
Acts 1:13-14 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Acts 2:2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts 2:46-47 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.
Acts 12:12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
Reading these verses it leads me to believe that the people gathered together to pray and worship the Lord under one accord, and fellowship with each other in Christ. It seems to be informal and personal.
Thank you, Chris!
I like your observation: “It seems to be informal and personal.” I agree. “Personal” relationships with the Lord are a hallmark of the church.