Apphia (Philemon's wife?)

In the opening greeting of the letter to Philemon, Paul addresses three named individuals: Philemon, Apphia and Archippus, as well as the house church that gathers in their home. Apphia is referred to as 'our sister' – an expression that marks her as a recognized fellow believer. The traditional interpretation, which can be traced back to the early church, identifies her as Philemon's wife. This understanding is supported by the context of the letter: it concerns the fate of the runaway slave Onesimus, a matter that affected the entire household. That Paul chooses to include Apphia as a recipient in an otherwise very personal letter suggests that her voice and consent were significant. As a possible hostess for the house church in Colossae, she represents the many women in the early church who opened their homes for Christian gatherings and thus contributed substantially to the life and spread of the congregation.