καὶ εἴπατε Ἀρχίππῳ· βλέπε τὴν διακονίαν ἣν παρέλαβες ἐν κυρίῳ, ἵνα αὐτὴν πληροῖς
Colossians 4:17 delivers a solemn and direct exhortation to Archippus, likely a leader in the local church. The Greek structure is personal and urgent, combining careful attention with a call to complete what God entrusted. It reflects the seriousness of Christian ministry and communal encouragement.
Grammatical Foundations
καὶ εἴπατε Ἀρχίππῳ—“And say to Archippus.”
- εἴπατε—aorist active imperative, 2nd person plural from λέγω, “say.” The plural form suggests the whole congregation is to be involved in the exhortation.
- Ἀρχίππῳ—dative singular proper noun; the recipient of the command.
βλέπε τὴν διακονίαν—“see to the ministry.”
- βλέπε—present active imperative, 2nd person singular from βλέπω, here used idiomatically: “watch,” “pay attention,” “take care.”
- τὴν διακονίαν—accusative feminine singular noun from διακονία, meaning “service,” “ministry,” or “task.”
ἣν παρέλαβες ἐν Κυρίῳ—“which you received in the Lord.”
- ἣν—relative pronoun, accusative feminine singular, referring to διακονίαν.
- παρέλαβες—aorist active indicative, 2nd person singular from παραλαμβάνω, “you received.”
- ἐν κυρίῳ—“in the Lord”; marks the divine context or authority under which the ministry was entrusted.
ἵνα αὐτὴν πληροῖς—“in order that you may fulfill it.”
- ἵνα—introduces a purpose clause.
- πληροῖς—present active subjunctive, 2nd person singular from πληρόω, “you may fulfill,” “complete,” or “bring to fullness.”
- αὐτήν—accusative feminine singular pronoun, referring to διακονίαν.
Exegetical and Theological Implications
This verse conveys the communal nature of ministry accountability. Paul doesn’t address Archippus privately but calls on the church to speak to him. The verb βλέπε emphasizes alertness and responsibility. The ministry Archippus received (παρέλαβες) is not self-assumed—it’s a divine stewardship “in the Lord.”
The purpose clause ἵνα πληροῖς urges not mere participation but faithful completion. Ministry in the New Testament is never casual—it is a calling to be fulfilled with intentionality and perseverance.
Linguistic and Historical Perspectives
διακονία can refer to a wide range of services: preaching, pastoral leadership, missionary work, or administrative tasks. Its flexibility in Pauline usage suggests that what matters most is not the function, but the faithfulness in carrying it out.
παραλαμβάνω often denotes receiving a tradition, teaching, or divine assignment (cf. Gal 1:9, 1 Cor 11:23). Thus, Archippus is entrusted with something sacred, not optional.
πληρόω conveys fullness or completion—it’s the same verb used of fulfilling Scripture. It reinforces the idea that ministry is not just to be started, but completed faithfully.
Table: Verbal and Structural Features in Colossians 4:17
| Text | Greek Verb / Phrase | Form | Function / Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Col 4:17 | εἴπατε | Aorist active imperative, 2nd person plural | “Say”; public, corporate exhortation addressed to the church |
| Col 4:17 | βλέπε τὴν διακονίαν | Present active imperative + accusative noun | “Pay attention to the ministry”; charge of responsibility |
| Col 4:17 | παρέλαβες ἐν κυρίῳ | Aorist active indicative + prepositional phrase | “You received in the Lord”; divine commissioning |
| Col 4:17 | ἵνα πληροῖς | Purpose clause with present subjunctive | “That you may fulfill [it]”; call to full obedience |
The Verse as a Paradigm of Koine Greek Richness
Colossians 4:17 exemplifies how Koine Greek weaves command, theology, and communal responsibility into a few precise lines. The imperatives and subjunctives frame ministry as a divinely assigned trust—meant not to be admired but completed. Paul’s words still echo as a challenge to every Christian called to serve: “See to your ministry—finish it well.”
