Tychicus (5190) (Tuchikos from tugchano [5177] = meet by chance, fortuitous, chance, fortunate - As an aside, in the sovereignty of God there is no "chance meeting" only providential meeting!) was Paul’s disciple whose name means "Chance", a name we occasionally encounter even today. However Tychicus was not "by chance" Paul's disciple and beloved brother, but "by choice" (God's sovereign choice of a man named Chance, who exercised his free will choice! Mysterious, amazing grace indeed! And all that just from one man's name!) Paul described Tychicus as... As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant (diakonos - see discussion of diakonia in discussion of Mark above) and fellow bond-servant (sundoulos = sun/syn + doulos) in the Lord, will bring you information. 8 For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts" (Col 4:7, 8-note) The term brother brings to mind the idea of a family and in most families brothers are very close because share a lot in common, including kinship or blood ties. There is something about being a brother, about being in a family. Paul of course is referring to a spiritual brother, a brother in Christ. Beloved is a term of endearment and is someone that you love, and are deeply devoted to. Paul did not call everyone beloved. Beloved means that the other person has struck a "chord" in your heart. There is a bond of love, a bond of faith that drew Tychicus and Paul together. Paul would not call someone "beloved" who did not genuinely love him. He would not call someone beloved who he did not trust or who did not have common spiritual interests and goals. But when you find somebody who loves you that way and you can love them that way, the two of you to each other are beloved and that's the way Paul felt about Tychicus. There are people out front, but how we need the people who are coming alongside, those we can truly call beloved brothers, those who love the work of Christ the same as we love it, and yet are gifted differently (cp 1Pe 4:10, 11-note), people who are willing to do the work and be willing never receive applause (at least in this present earthly life!), people who are willing be behind the scenes so that God's work might be done through the body of Christ, the church (cp 1Co 12:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25). When we get to heaven and the rewards are passed out (cp 1Co 3:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15), Tychicus is going to be blessed as much as Paul, because his heart was the same (cp "kindred spirit" Php 2:20-note). His heart's desire was first to devote himself to God (worship) and then to devote himself to God’s work (Worship should always proceed work!). If follows that Paul and Tychicus were a perfect "God ordained" match for accomplishing God's work. Paul also refers to Tychicus as a fellow bond-servant, a sundoulos, where "sun" means together with, and "doulos" means a slave. Anytime you see the word slave in connection with a Christian it is always a bond-servant or "love slave", one who has chosen to be a slave to the will and the ways and the Word of the Lord Jesus Himself. Paul says that Tychicus is a bond-servant with me. In other words, Paul is saying that he and Tychicus come out of the same heart. This is the bottom line. Do you want to see where Paul’s heart is? Look in Acts 20:24... But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, [here is a bond-servant] in order that I may finish my course (dromos [word study] - "race"), and the ministry (diakonia [word study]) which I received [not achieved or sought!] from the Lord (kurios) Jesus, to testify solemnly (diamarturomai [word study]) of the gospel (euaggelion) of the grace (charis) of God." Comment: Paul is saying, "I want everything about me to bring testimony to the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ, both living in me and motivating me to do what I do. I want my life to count for Christ." (cp John Piper's book Don't Waste Your Life @ Desiring God Christian Resource Library) Paul goes on to add that "Tychicus is a fellow bond-servant and shares the same attitude which I have. He and I share the same heart." May "Tychicus' tribe" increase in the modern church in America! Parenthetically, is this not a great description of the good news as "the gospel of the grace of God"! How thankful we should be that it does not read "the gospel of the works we must perform to please God", for indeed that would be the antithesis of "good news"! In Ephesians Paul speaks of Tychicus in "glowing terms"... But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may (parakaleo) console and cheer and encourage and strengthen your hearts. (Amplified Version - Ep 6:21, 22-notes) Tychicus was one of Paul’s disciples and was first mentioned as a companion of the apostle during a portion of Paul’s return journey from the third missionary tour (Acts 20:4) where Paul identifies him (with Trophimus) as a native of Asia. Tychicus was with Paul when the apostle wrote the prison epistles from Rome (during his first imprisonment), and he was with him for a time when he wrote in a later imprisonment to Timothy (2Ti 4:12-note). In Paul's letter to Titus, the apostle clearly expresses his confidence in the ability of Tychicus to take over for Titus in Crete which would allow the latter to come spend time with Paul: When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. (Titus 3:12-note ) I HAVE SENT TO EPHESUS: apesteila (1SAAI) eis Epheson: (Acts 20:16 17 25; 1Ti 1:3) I have sent to Ephesus - See note above regarding Paul's perseverance even in the face of persecution, pain and peril to his very life. What a great example and high standard Paul sets, one which should serve to motivate each of us to live life in the light of eternity and not just time! May Paul's tribe increase to the glory of God. Amen. Sent (649) (apostello from apo = from + stello = appoint to position or literally to send forth - see study of related word apostolos) means to send off, send forth or send out. The idea is that one is sent forth on a certain mission. To cause someone to depart for a particular purpose. To dispatch someone for the achievement of some objective, in this instance mentioning only who was sent, where he was sent to but not specifically stating the purpose. Apostello - 117.21" class="scriptRef">21.3" class="scriptRef">3" class="scriptRef">32x in 115v in NAS - 16" class="scriptRef">16" class="scriptRef">16" class="scriptRef">Matt 2:16; 8.31" class="scriptRef">8:31; 10:5, 16, 40; 11:10; 13" class="scriptRef">13.41" class="scriptRef">13:41; 14.35" class="scriptRef">14:35; 24" class="scriptRef">15:24; 20.20" class="scriptRef">20" class="scriptRef">20.2" class="scriptRef">20:2; 21:1, 3, 34" class="scriptRef">34, 36" class="scriptRef">36-Matt.21.46" class="scriptRef">36f; 22:3f, 16; 23.34" class="scriptRef">23:34, 37; 24:31; 27" class="scriptRef">27.19" class="scriptRef">27:19; Mark 1:2; 3:14, 31; 29" class="scriptRef">4:29; 5:10; 6:7, 17, 27; 26" class="scriptRef">26" class="scriptRef">8:26; 9:37; 11:1, 3; 12:2ff, 13; 13:27; 14:13; Luke 1:19, 26; 18" class="scriptRef">4:18, 43; 7:3, 20, 27; 9:2, 48, 52; 10:1, 3, 16; 11:49; 13:34; 14:17, 32" class="scriptRef">32" class="scriptRef">32; 19:14, 29, 32; 20:10, 20; 22:8, 35; 24:49; John 1:6, 19, 24; 3:17, 28, 34; 38" class="scriptRef">38" class="scriptRef">4:38; 33" class="scriptRef">5:33, 36, 38; 6:29, 57; 7:29, 32; 42" class="scriptRef">8:42; 9:7; 10:36; 11:3, 42; 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25; 18:24; 20:21; Acts 3:20, 26; 5:21; 7:14, 34f; 8:14; 9:17, 38; 10:8, 17, 20, 36; 11:11, 13, 30; 13:15; 15:27, 33; 16:35f; 19:22; 26:17; 28:28; Rom 10:15; 1 Cor 1:17; 2 Cor 12:17; 2 Tim 4:12; Heb 1:14; 1 Pet 1:12; 1 John 4:9f, 14; Rev 1:1; 5:6; 22:6. NAS = puts(1), send(17), send forth(3), sending(3), sends(1), sent(104), sent...away(1), set(1). Ephesus (2181) (Ephesos - thought to mean desirable or beloved) (Click for map scroll down) (see Acts 18:19-20:17) was the most important city of the Roman province of Asia, and as noted above Tychicus was a native of Asia. Ephesus was built on a natural harbor whose waves, according to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder, “used to wash up to the temple of Diana.” Ephesos - 16x in 16v - Acts 18:19, 21, 24; 19:1, 17, 26; 20:16 17; 1 Cor 15:32; 16:8; Eph 1:1; 1 Tim 1:3; 2 Tim 1:18; 4:12; Rev 1:11; 2:1. Ephesus was described by Strabo, an early Greek geographer, as the largest commercial center west of the Taurus Mountains and was also well known as the “guardian” of the temple of Artemis (Acts 19:24), or as the Romans called her, Diana. With an artificial harbor accessible to the largest ships, and rivaling the harbor at Miletus, standing at the entrance of the valley which reaches far into the interior of Asia Minor, and connected by highways with the chief cities of the province, Ephesus was the most easily accessible city in Asia, both by land and sea. At its zenith Ephesus had a population of over half a million inhabitants. What was Paul's purpose for sending Tychicus to Ephesus? We can only speculate that perhaps Tychicus was sent to relieve Timothy, thus allowing him to come to be with Paul. As Wiersbe notes What a blessing it is to have people who can replace others! A relief pitcher may not get all the glory, but he may help win the game! (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor or Logos) 2Timothy 4:13 When you come (PMPMSN) bring (2SPAM) the cloak which I left (1SAAI) at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: ton phailonen on apelipon (1SAAI) en Troadi para Karpo erchomenos (PMPMSN) phere, (2SPAM) kai ta biblia, malista tas membranas. BBE: The coat which I did not take from Troas and which is with Carpus, get when you come, and the books, specially the papers. GWT: When you come, bring the warm coat I left with Carpus in the city of Troas. Also bring the scrolls and especially the parchments. (GWT) KJV: The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. Phillips: And please bring with you the cloak I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, especially the manuscripts (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: My cloak which I left behind at Troas in the care of Carpus, when you are coming, be carrying along, and my papyrus rolls, especially my parchments. (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: the cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus, coming, bring thou and the books -- especially the parchments. WHEN YOU COME BRING THE CLOAK WHICH I LEFT AT TROAS WITH CARPUS: ton phailonen on apelipon (1SAAI) en Troadi para Karpo erchomenos (PMPMSN) phere (2SPAM): (11" class="scriptRef">1Cor 4:11; 2Cor 11:27) (Acts 16:8,11; 20:5-12) Paul issues a command to bring (phero) the cloak. In this section we see even the great apostle was a normal human being with very real needs - friends, physical comfort and the "Bread of Life", the living word as food for his soul. What a remember that even the Lord's apostles never become saturated with the living and active word, but in this present life are ever in need of daily nourishment found only in His Word taught by His Spirit (Mt 4:4, Lk 4:4, Dt 8:3, 1Pe 2:2-note, He 5:14-note). Are you hungry? 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