John Chrysostom

"And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it." Wherefore doth he not write to him? Perhaps he needed it not, but only a bare reminding, so as to be more diligent. "And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord." His chief aim is to subject them to him entirely. …

Homily on Colossians 12 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Why does he not write to him? It is likely that he did not need a lengthy epistle; for him, one brief reminder was sufficient. This is everywhere the voice of one who warns, as for example: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy" (Col. 2:8). Or again: "Be careful that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block" (1 Cor. 8:9). …

Commentary on Colossians ↗

Thomas Aquinas

And say to Archippus. He was their prelate, and he tells them to warn him: see that you fulfil the ministry which you have received in the Lord: "Fulfil your ministry" (2 Tim 4:5). One is said to fulfil his ministry when he does that for which he received it. Still, it does not seem proper for those in a congregation to warn their own prelate (Ex 19:24). I answer that a member of the congregation is forbidden to rebuke him sharply or insult him, but he can warn him in a charitable way as Paul rebuked Peter (Gal 2:11). …

Commentary on Colossians ↗