‘And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfil it.'
We do not know why Archippus is picked out. He is called a ‘fellow-soldier' (Philemon 1:2), which suggests Paul had confidence in him, and he may have been the particular leader in the Colossian church whom Paul felt had the ability to sway things, and to whom he wished to give encouragement. This would explain his mention here as it would give him added authority. Or he may have been someone well known to Paul, possibly even set apart by Paul by the laying on of hands, and related to Philemon who clearly owed his conversion to Paul (Philemon 1:19). Or he could have been a prominent teacher who had been affected by the local heresy whom Paul is calling back to his duty. But the important thing is that he has received a ministry ‘in the Lord' and is now charged to fulfil it.