The Sent - Colo 4:7-9

πέμπω

  Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts,

9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, I1. Tychicus ( 7-8)

  Tychicus was an Ephesian whom Paul described as a “dear brother and faithful servant of the Lord” (Eph. 6:21).His name means “ fortunate” and was a native of Asia minor ( Acts 20:4) He, with Onesimus, delivered Paul’s letter from Ephesus to the Christians in Colossae. Tychicus was charged with bringing to the Ephesians all the news about Paul’s experiences in Rome while he awaited trial before Nero. Tychicus may have been designated by Paul to replace Titus in Crete (Tit. 3:12). Some interpreters believe that he is the “brother” in 2 Corinthians 8:18ff. It is an ancient tradition that he became the Bishop of Colophon and that he died a martyr, but there is no documentary evidence to support this.

Will tell you all about my activities, Paul is very sure that Tychicus will make known everything about him to these believers. Paul uses the same words in Ephesians 6:21. Ephesians and Colossians epistles fall under the chronological order, it is suggested that they were all written in AD 60 - 60. he is an option in Titus 3:12.

 He is a beloved brother  ( agapetos) term describes someone who is considered dearly loved or valued ( in the use it makes a special reference to someone as who shares a close bond as a believer in Christ.

Faithful minister responsible minister one who is trustworthy and held accountable.

Fellow servant in the Lord. Fellow slave, a person who is a salve of the same master as another.

 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, Tychicus was sent not only to deliver the epistle to Colossae but also to verbally make known who Paul is personally.

why?

He has written an epistle to them ( 1:1)

He heard about them and he prays for them. (1:3)

He is a friend of the their leader Epaphras (1:8)

That you may know how we are ( your estate) and that he may encourage your hearts, (Text minor manuscript issue)

Why make known ? so that Colossian Christians learn about Paul the man God has used to pen down the epistle or that he may learn their estate so that he can encourage them.

That he may encourage your hearts, the word for encourage here is Parakaleo which means to call along side it can be translated as to

counsel ,

comfort,

console,

encourage,

urge, appeal and exhort.

and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

Tychicus was accompanied by this man by the name of Onesimus.

Onesimus was a run away slave fled from his master, Philemon, and he met the Apostle Paul during his imprisonment. As a result of his connection with Paul, Onesimus became a believer (Phlm 10). Paul then sent Onesimus back to Philemon, whom he had also led to faith in Christ (ca. ad 60; Phlm 19). Onesimus accompanied Tychicus, apparently bearing the letter to Colossians (Col 4:7–9) 

our faithful and beloved brother, Paul says that Onesimus is reliable or trustworthy and dearly loved.

Something is different here, Onesimus is known that way, he is a fugitive slave in fact going back to Colosse should bring put in more trouble due to his status. But we are able to see the power of the gospel which turns unreliable to become reliable the unlovable to becoming loving and lovable.

Have you heard the saying “ Doctors only rush to the sick”

Mk 2:16–17.

And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why

  does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mk 2:16–17.

Jesus’s encounter with woman at change her life and her story such that she was able to face the very people trying to avoid by calling to see the man. John 4:29

The name Onesimus means useful, he useless as run way slave but now that he met the saviour his life turned significantly.

The contrast between Tychicus and Onesimus is clearly reveals the opposite in terms of who has been with Paul for long time but the Grace of God sees them all faithful and beloved.

The name Tychicus means fortunate or favored it could also mean to be prospered to be blessed.

unless we recognize that we saved by grace we will struggle with entitlement forgetting that we deserve nothing but the wrath apart from Christ dying on our behalf. we will be wieners and complainers.

But Tychicus served the Lord by being a sent one, taking , letters, informing people about Paul, finding out how they are doing and coming along side of them and encouraging. the truth is we all come to point at which we will need a Tychicus. Unlike Tychicus the gospel works in the hearts of men to create in them a big heart for those who seen useless at first. like Onesimus, there comes a time when they are useful unless how useless we were before we came to christ and it was by God’s that we are saved.

1 Richard R. Losch, All the People in the Bible: An A–Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, and Other Characters in Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008), 432–433.

πέμπω

  Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts,

9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 4:7–9.

1. Tychicus ( 7-8)

  Tychicus was an Ephesian whom Paul described as a “dear brother and faithful servant of the Lord” (Eph. 6:21).His name means “ fortunate” and was a native of Asia minor ( Acts 20:4) He, with Onesimus, delivered Paul’s letter from Ephesus to the Christians in Colossae. Tychicus was charged with bringing to the Ephesians all the news about Paul’s experiences in Rome while he awaited trial before Nero. Tychicus may have been designated by Paul to replace Titus in Crete (Tit. 3:12). Some interpreters believe that he is the “brother” in 2 Corinthians 8:18ff. It is an ancient tradition that he became the Bishop of Colophon and that he died a martyr, but there is no documentary evidence to support this.

Will tell you all about my activities, Paul is very sure that Tychicus will make known everything about him to these believers. Paul uses the same words in Ephesians 6:21. Ephesians and Colossians epistles fall under the chronological order, it is suggested that they were all written in AD 60 - 60. he is an option in Titus 3:12.

 He is a beloved brother  ( agapetos) term describes someone who is considered dearly loved or valued ( in the use it makes a special reference to someone as who shares a close bond as a believer in Christ.

Faithful minister responsible minister one who is trustworthy and held accountable.

Fellow servant in the Lord. Fellow slave, a person who is a salve of the same master as another.

 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, Tychicus was sent not only to deliver the epistle to Colossae but also to verbally make known who Paul is personally.

why?

He has written an epistle to them ( 1:1)

He heard about them and he prays for them. (1:3)

He is a friend of the their leader Epaphras (1:8)

That you may know how we are ( your estate) and that he may encourage your hearts, (Text minor manuscript issue)

Why make known ? so that Colossian Christians learn about Paul the man God has used to pen down the epistle or that he may learn their estate so that he can encourage them.

That he may encourage your hearts, the word for encourage here is Parakaleo which means to call along side it can be translated as to

counsel ,

comfort,

console,

encourage,

urge, appeal and exhort.

and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

Tychicus was accompanied by this man by the name of Onesimus.

Onesimus was a run away slave fled from his master, Philemon, and he met the Apostle Paul during his imprisonment. As a result of his connection with Paul, Onesimus became a believer (Phlm 10). Paul then sent Onesimus back to Philemon, whom he had also led to faith in Christ (ca. ad 60; Phlm 19). Onesimus accompanied Tychicus, apparently bearing the letter to Colossians (Col 4:7–9) 

our faithful and beloved brother, Paul says that Onesimus is reliable or trustworthy and dearly loved.

Something is different here, Onesimus is known that way, he is a fugitive slave in fact going back to Colosse should bring put in more trouble due to his status. But we are able to see the power of the gospel which turns unreliable to become reliable the unlovable to becoming loving and lovable.

Have you heard the saying “ Doctors only rush to the sick”

Mk 2:16–17.

And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why

  does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mk 2:16–17.

1 Richard R. Losch, All the People in the Bible: An A–Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, and Other Characters in Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008), 432–433.

πέμπω

  Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts,

9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. 1

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 4:7–9.

1. Tychicus ( 7-8)

  Tychicus was an Ephesian whom Paul described as a “dear brother and faithful servant of the Lord” (Eph. 6:21).His name means “ fortunate” and was a native of Asia minor ( Acts 20:4) He, with Onesimus, delivered Paul’s letter from Ephesus to the Christians in Colossae. Tychicus was charged with bringing to the Ephesians all the news about Paul’s experiences in Rome while he awaited trial before Nero. Tychicus may have been designated by Paul to replace Titus in Crete (Tit. 3:12). Some interpreters believe that he is the “brother” in 2 Corinthians 8:18ff. It is an ancient tradition that he became the Bishop of Colophon and that he died a martyr, but there is no documentary evidence to support this.

Will tell you all about my activities, Paul is very sure that Tychicus will make known everything about him to these believers. Paul uses the same words in Ephesians 6:21. Ephesians and Colossians epistles fall under the chronological order, it is suggested that they were all written in AD 60 - 60. he is an option in Titus 3:12.

 He is a beloved brother  ( agapetos) term describes someone who is considered dearly loved or valued ( in the use it makes a special reference to someone as who shares a close bond as a believer in Christ.

Faithful minister responsible minister one who is trustworthy and held accountable.

Fellow servant in the Lord. Fellow slave, a person who is a salve of the same master as another.

 I have sent him to you for this very purpose,

1 Richard R. Losch, All the People in the Bible: An A–Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, and Other Characters in Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008), 432–433.