Ephesians 6:21,22

The mission of Tychicus

21. ye also as well as my other friends, near or distant. Perhaps the emphasis has to do with Colossians 4:7, words written so nearly at the same time: Ephesus as well as Colossæ should be kept informed. This, however, opens the question (not to be discussed here) which Epistle was firstwritten, this or the Colossian.

my affairs Lit., the things concerning me. So Philippians 1:12; Colossians 4:7. The phrase is common in later classical Greek. Omit "and," supplied by A.V. after these words.

how I do Lit., "whatI do." But Gr. usage confirms the rendering of A.V. and R.V. The "doing" is faring; exactly as in the English phrase.

Tychicus Named elsewhere, Acts 20:4; Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12. An examination of these passages and their surroundings shews that Tychicus belonged to the province of Asia, and makes it likely that he was an Ephesian. His character is drawn in noble outlines here and in Col. We see in him one who attracted the Apostle's love and reliance, in the fellowship of Christ, in a high degree; and the words in 2 Tim. shew that his faithful readiness for service was maintained into the last trying days of St Paul's life. It is suggested that Tychicus, and his brother Asian, Trophimus, were the two "brethren" associated with Titus in the management of the collection (2 Corinthians 8:16-24) for the poor Christians in Judea. Tradition makes Tychicus afterwards bishop of Chalcedon in Bithynia, or of Colophon, or of Neapolis in Cyprus.

See the art. Tychicusin Smith's Dict. of the Bible;Ellicott here; and Lightfoot on Colossians 4:7, and p. 11 of his Philippians. Lightfoot shews that the name Tychicus, though not common, occurs in inscriptions and on coins belonging to Asia Minor.

This is the one individual personal allusion in the Epistle.

a beloved brother Lit., and better, the, &c. The allusion is to a person well-defined by acquaintance. On the word "brother" see below, on Ephesians 6:23.

minister Gr. diaconos:so in Colossians 4:7. See on Ephesians 3:7 above for the essential meaning of the word. In this passage, as in Col., the probable reference is to the activities of Tychicus as St Paul's helper. Cp. Colossians 1:7 for the word in a similar connexion. In Philippians 1:1; 1Ti 3:8; 1 Timothy 3:12; 1 Timothy 4:6; the word is used to denote holders of a subordinate office in the Christian ministry. And cp. Romans 16:1, where it is used of a Christian womanholding a recognized position in the work of the Church. Here, however, such a meaning is unlikely, the person being of a calibre, and in a connexion with the Apostle, which do not suggest an inferior grade of work. In no passages of the N.T. save Rom., Phil., and 1 Tim., quoted above, has the word diaconosany necessary connexion at all with organized ministry as such. E.g. in John 2:5; John 2:9, it denotes a "servant" in the commonest sense; in Romans 13:4, a "servant" of God in civil magistracy; in 2 Corinthians 3:6, a "servant" of the New Covenant, as an active agent in its promulgation. In Romans 15:8; Galatians 2:17; it is used of the Lord Himself.

in the Lord The last occurrence in the Epistle of this sacred and pregnant phrase. The life, and the life-work, of Tychicus were altogether conditioned, characterized, and animated, by his union with Christ, and the people of Christ.