Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Colossians 4:7

τὰ κατʼ ἐμὲ πάντα, “all my circumstances.” The order suggests that πάντα was almost an after-thought.

For τὰ κατʼ ἐμέ, see, besides ||Ephesians 6:21; Philippians 1:12; Tob 10:8; cf. Acts 25:14.

γνωρίσει ὑμῖν, Colossians 4:9; Colossians 1:27.

Τύχικος, mentioned five times in the N.T. (a) Acts 20:4-5 (c. A.D. 58). (b) our passage (c. A.D. 63). (c) || Ephesians 6:21 (c. A.D. 63). (d) Titus 3:12 (c. A.D. 67). (e) 2 Timothy 4:12 (c. A.D. 68).

From these passages we learn that he was a native of the Roman province of Asia, but probably not of Ephesus itself (contrast the place names in Acts 20:4, though this is not conclusive in view of Trophimus, Acts 21:29), and almost certainly not of Colossae (contrast the phrase used of Onesimus, Colossians 4:9, ὅς ἐστιν ἐξ ὑμῶν). He and Trophimus (and possibly the others) met St Paul at Troas on his last journey to Jerusalem, and presumably accompanied him there (cf. Acts 21:29). Five years later he takes St Paul’s letter to the Colossians and the Circular Letter (“Ephesians”) to its various recipients. Five years later again we find him with St Paul (apparently) at Nicopolis (probably in Epirus), and about to be sent to Crete. A little later St Paul in his last letter mentions that he has sent him to Ephesus again. What we know of him, that is to say, fully bears out St Paul’s further description in our verse. On the occurrence of the name on inscriptions, and even occasionally in near proximity to that of Onesimus, see Lightfoot.

ὁ�. So of Onesimus, Colossians 4:9; Philemon 1:16, and of St Paul himself in 2 Peter 3:15. Compare Colossians 1:7, note on τοῦ�.

The phrase here brings out (a) that he was a Christian, (b) that he stood in close intimacy with St Paul and therefore was able to give them full information about him. Cf. Chrys. εἰ�, πάντα οἶδε, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτὸν ἔκρυπτε … εἰ πιστὸς, οὐδὲ ψεύσεται· εἰ σύνδουλος, κεκοινώνηκε τῶν πειρασμῶν· ὥστε πάντοθεν τὸ�.

καὶ πιστὸς διάκονος, “and a faithful minister.” διάκονος is hardly used here in its official sense (Romans 16:1; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 3:12 and possibly Colossians 1:7). It doubtless refers to Tychicus’ ministering to St Paul in evangelistic work; cf. Acts 19:22. There seems to be no reason for carrying the reference of πιστὸς beyond διάκονος, see the two following notes.

καὶ σύνδουλος (Colossians 1:7) ἐν κυρίῳ. The personal Christian friendship (ἀγαπ. ἀδ.), and the personal ministration (διάκ.), are glorified by the addition of common service and that in the Lord.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Colossians 4:7

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