Colossians 4:17
“And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul has a word for Archippus: to take heed to the ministry he received in the Lord, and to fulfill it.
What Does Colossians 4:17 Mean?
Paul singles out one individual with a personal charge. Say to Archippus -- a direct message to a named member of the church, delivered through the whole congregation that hears the letter.
The charge is weighty: Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. Archippus has been given a task from the Lord, and Paul urges him to attend to it carefully and carry it through to completion. Ministry is a trust received, to be faithfully discharged, not neglected. For the Colossians, this public exhortation reminds everyone that callings are serious and meant to be fulfilled. Paul's word still speaks to all who have been entrusted with service in Christ: guard that work, give heed to it, and see it through. A ministry received in the Lord is a sacred responsibility, and faithfulness means completing what one has been given to do.