Colossians 4:15 (KJV)

What does Colossians 4:15 mean?

Colossians 4:15 is a greeting from Paul, asking the recipients of his letter to send his regards to the fellow believers in Laodicea, to a person named Nymphas, and to the church that meets in Nymphas’s house. This verse shows Paul’s personal connection and care for different Christian communities.

Paul is writing this letter from prison to the Christians in Colossae, and at the end of his letter, he includes greetings for other nearby believers. Laodicea was a neighboring city, and Nymphas appears to be a local leader who hosted a church in his home. This verse highlights the close-knit and house-based nature of early Christian gatherings, as well as Paul’s encouragement for unity among believers in different places.

The Greek behind Colossians 4:15

• The word for "salute" is ἀσπάσασθε (aspasasthe), which means to greet or to send greetings. Paul is not just acknowledging these people but expressing warmth and fellowship.
• The word for "church" is ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia), which originally meant an assembly or gathering. Here, it refers to a group of believers meeting in a private home, showing that early Christian communities often gathered in houses rather than special buildings.
• The phrase "in his house" uses the Greek word οἶκος (oikos), meaning house or household. This emphasizes that the church was not a building but a group of people meeting in someone’s home, which was typical for the time.

Why Colossians 4:15 matters

• This verse clears up the idea that early churches were formal institutions; instead, they were often small gatherings in private homes, emphasizing community and hospitality.
• By naming Nymphas and the church in his house, Paul shows that leadership and responsibility in the early church could be held by ordinary believers who opened their homes.
• The greeting to Laodicea connects the churches in different cities, highlighting the broader network and unity among early Christians, which is a recurring theme in Paul’s letters.