10/31/2026
Nympha, or Nymphas, was an early Christian believer in the city of Laodicea who hosted a local house church in her home. She is mentioned briefly by the Apostle Paul in Colossians, where Paul sends her his greetings along with the congregation that met under her roof. Colossians 4:15 reads, “Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.” There is a question as to whether Nympha is a man or woman based on the form of the name in the Greek manuscripts. Some versions of the Bible translate the name as “Nymphas,” which is the male version of the name (KJV, NKJV, ERV, YLT). In contrast, other versions translate the name as “Nympha,” which is the female version of the name; these translations also state that the church met in “her” home (NIV, ESV, CSB, NASB, NET). A large variety of scholars believe that a proper reading of the text argues for the female form of the name, which is why most modern versions render the name “Nympha.” Notably, Nymphas means “bridegroom” in Greek, while Nympha means “bride” or “nymph-like.” Having said this, one has to ask: does it matter? Whether Nympha or Nymphas, he or she was a Believer. As a Believer, they must have been a wealthy individual, owning a house large enough to accommodate regular meetings of the early church. Meeting in someone’s house was a common practice for the church, as they did not have an official building, as is common today. To receive many Christians into one’s home for a meeting required some space, and the larger house typically indicated that the host was a person of means. As Paul sat in a Roman prison cell, he wrote the epistle to the Colossians, and he sent three greetings: one to the Colossian believers, who received Paul’s letter; one to the believers in Laodicea, which was close by Colossae; and one to Nympha and the church in their house. We may not know much about Nympha (or Nymphas), but we have an understanding that she (or he) was prosperous, generous, and devout. It may be good to note that being a Christian during this time was still subject to persecution. Christianity was still contrary to the Roman government. It’s here the question becomes: wealthy or not, would I risk persecution, even the loss of my possessions and life itself, to provide a place that Believers could meet? https://www.facebook.com/RidgeHavenRetreat
Devotions are reflection upon my life's study, reading, and time with God. Credits are given as I
