10/01/2025
Fellow Soldiers
Paulâs recognition of Archippus as a fellow soldier reminds us that the Christian life is a spiritual battleâand weâre called to fight alongside one another.
âPaul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.ââPhilemon 1:1â2 NASB
To Paul, Archippus wasnât just another Christian. Instead of just going through the motions of Christianity, Archippus was a âfellow soldier,â a warrior who recognized that the followers of Jesus are in a spiritual battle.
We have a real enemy and must be armed, spiritually prepared to fight. In addition to personal warfare, Archippus was willing to stand alongside Paul and other believers in this epic battle.
By calling special attention to Archippus, Paul seemed to imply that some Christians were not âfellow soldiers.â Although they believed in Jesus, they didnât think of themselves as soldiers. They may have gone to church, but they werenât actively engaged in spiritual warfare.
Today, many Christians donât have the kind of commitment Paul found in Archippus. They donât realize weâre in a spiritual war and fighting an enemy who will stoop to anything to defeat us. Satan is the father of lies, and he seeks to distract us, destroy our testimony, and rob us of Godâs blessings.
Youâre a soldier in this battle. You have a fierce enemy who will use any weapon he can to attack and destroy you and your loved onesâemotionally, financially, physically, and spiritually.
Commit to being a âfellow soldierâ in Godâs army. Submit your life to Jesus, your Commander-in-Chief. Be on your guard, and stay sensitive to His Holy Spirit. Obey His Word. Serve in unity with your fellow soldiers, your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Reflection Question: What does it look like for you to live as a fellow soldier today?