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Colossians House Churches
Paul's letters to the Colossians and to Philemon refer to several house churches in the cities of Colossae, Hierapolis and Laodicea - communities evangelized by Epaphras. Although Epaphras "worked hard" in Hierapolis,1 there is no evidence that Epaphras was successful in establishing a church there at this time. With respect to Laodicea, Paul refers to a group "of brothers and sisters, and to Nympha and the church in her house."2 The natural reading of the text implies that two separate groups were meeting, one of them led by Nympha, the likely patron and leader.3
Colossae Households
A church in Philemon's house is mentioned explicitly.4 The existence of a second house church is based on the assumption that all the "saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae"5 required additional homes for fellowship and worship. Other house churches may be implied in situations where hospitality to itinerant teachers and evangelists is encouraged. In this situation, the leaders of a house may have decided who should and should not be taken in.6
1Colossians 4:13 2Colossians 4:15 3"Families in the New Testament World - Households and House Churches" by Carolyn Osiek and David L. Balch. 4Philemon 2 5Colossians 1:2 6"The Emergence of the Church - Context, Growth, Leadership and Worship" by Arthur G. Patzia.
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