15 “Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.” (Colossians 4:15–16 (ESV)
At the end of the Apostle Paul’s New Testament Epistles, he often included final greetings. These remarks usually mentioned fellow servants of Christ who ministered to him and alongside him. They are superstar-less servants. Today, it is a woman named Nympha. Paul also included some instructions for corporate worship.
Paul extended greetings to his fellow brothers in Christ who lived in Laodicea. Additionally, he mentioned a woman named Nympha. Nympha was a Christian woman living in Laodicea (or perhaps Colossae). It is in her house believers gathered for worship.
“Early manuscripts differ on the gender of “Nympha,” but scribes would more likely change a woman’s name into a man’s name here than the reverse; hence the feminine form “Nympha” is probably original, making her a leader of a house church,” explains commentator Craig Keener.
“Some manuscripts identify this person who hosted a Laodicean church as a woman (“her house”). There are several references to women (whose marital status is not mentioned) as patrons or hosts of churches, or as workers in ministry (Acts 12:12; 16:13-15; Rom. 16:1-6, 12-13; Phil. 4:1-2; 2 John 1:5),” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“There is no evidence of churches owning separate property for worship until the middle of the third century. Until then, it was the norm for churches to meet in private dwellings. Those who exercised a ministry of hospitality by having churches in their homes were important benefactors of the early church (Acts 12:12; Rom. 16:5; I Cor. 16:19; Philemon 2).”
The relationships between men and women, particularly husbands and wives, were not inconsistent with the partnership in other forms of Christian ministry existing between men and women in the early church. This is found in Col. 3:18 and parallel Scripture references (I Cor. 14:33-35; Eph. 5:22-33; I Tim. 2:11-15), It must be noted the church met in Nympha’s house. Paul did not say she was the pastor of the church.
New believers in Christ, among others, often ask me if it is necessary for Christians to participate in corporate church gatherings for worship. They ask, “Can’t we just worship the Lord individually? Why is it so important for us to go to church?” Paul’s mention of the church in Nympha’s house provides key evidence 1st century believers in Christ met together for worship (Acts 2:42-47; 20:1-7; I Cor. 14; 16:1-2; Philem. 1-2).
“There are good biblical reasons that account for the two-thousand-year tradition that most Christian churches typically gather at least once a week for corportate worship. We know from the Old Testament that God ordained that He should be worshipped corporately, not just individually (Ps. 22:22-25; 35:18; 40:9-10; 68:26; 107:32; 147:1). It is hardly conceivable that corporate worship would be considered less fitting for the new-covenant people of God, who have such greater knowledge of the praise worthiness of God in Christ,” explains Dr. John Piper.
“There is something about the nature of God and the nature of the human heart (alone and in community) that makes worship fitting—apt, becoming, suitable, appropriate, proper, felicitous, beautiful.”
“Corporate worship is designed to turn your wrestling heart into a place of peace by presenting to you again and again a stunningly glorious, all-powerful, always gracious, ever present, all-wise and everlasting Savior.” – Paul David Tripp
One of the staples of corporate worship in the early church was the reading and preaching of Scripture (I Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim 4:1-5). This paralleled the Old Testament practice by Ezra (Neh. 8:1-8). Paul’s reference to the letter from Laodicea may have been a reference to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
“That Paul includes such a request in today’s passage may simply reflect the fact that the close proximity of Laodicea to Colossae would make it easy for the churches to share their letters with one another. But it also shows that Paul understood that his letters, while delivered to individual persons or congregations, also contained teaching applicable to all believers. Here is a hint that the church should collect such writings and hold onto them for ongoing use in the covenant community,” states Dr. Sproul.
Today as you gather for corporate worship, take note of the public reading, teaching and exhortation of, and from, Scripture (I Tim.4:13). Encourage your pastor for having done so. Encourage your pastor to do so.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a God honoring day in the LORD.
Soli deo Gloria!
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