Ephesians 6:21

But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(21) That ye also—i.e., ye as well as others. There is evidently an allusion to Tychicus’ similar mission to Colossæ; and we may, perhaps, also trace some indication of a generality of scope in this Epistle.

Tychicus is first mentioned with Trophimus in Acts 20:4, as being “of Asia,” and accompanying St. Paul on his last journey from Corinth to Asia, although he is not, like Trophimus, actually named as with the Apostle at Jerusalem. It is highly probable that he was one of the “messengers of the churches” spoken of in 2Corinthians 8:18-23, as sent to bear the alms to Jerusalem. We now find him again with St. Paul, and made by him the bearer of this Epistle and the Epistle to the Colossians. Lastly, he is alluded to as still his companion in the interval between the first and second captivity (Titus 3:2), and in the second captivity is despatched once more to Ephesus (2Timothy 4:12). It is evident that he well deserved the title of a “faithful minister” to the Apostle; and we note (in 2Timothy 4:11-12) that the command to bring Mark, as being “profitable for ministration” is immediately connected with the remark, “Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.”

A faithful minister.—The word “minister” is diaconus; but there is no reason to think that it is used technically to describe Tychicus as a deacon. In the Colossian Epistle the words “and fellowservant” are added, showing clearly that the word “minister” refers only to ministration to St. Paul.

Benson Commentary

Ephesians 6:21-22. That ye also — As well as others; may know my affairs — The things which have happened to me, and what I am doing at present: or, the things which relate to me, as the expression, τα κατ’ εμε, which occurs likewise Php 1:12, signifies. The apostle means that he wished the Ephesians, as well as the Philippians and Colossians, to know what success he had had in preaching at Rome, what opposition he had met with, what comfort he had enjoyed under his sufferings, what converts he had made to Christ, and in what manner the evidences of the gospel affected the minds of the inhabitants of Rome. These, and such like things, he sent Tychicus to make known to them.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:19-24 The gospel was a mystery till made known by Divine revelation; and it is the work of Christ's ministers to declare it. The best and most eminent ministers need the prayers of believers. Those particularly should be prayed for, who are exposed to great hardships and perils in their work. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith. By peace, understand all manner of peace; peace with God, peace of conscience, peace among themselves. And the grace of the Spirit, producing faith and love, and every grace. These he desires for those in whom they were already begun. And all grace and blessings come to the saints from God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace, that is, the favour of God; and all good, spiritual and temporal, which is from it, is and shall be with all those who thus love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and with them only.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But that ye also may know my affairs - May understand my condition, my feelings, and in what I am engaged. To them it could not but be a subject of deep interest.

And how I do - Greek, "What I do; that is how I am employed.

Tychicus - Tychicus was of the province of Asia, in Asia Minor, of which Ephesus was the capital; see Acts 20:4. It is not improbable that he was of Ephesus, and that he was well known to the church there. He also carried the letter to the Colossians Col 4:7, and probably the Second Epistle to Timothy; 2 Timothy 4:12. Paul also proposed to send him to Crete to succeed Titus; Titus 3:12. He was high in the confidence of: Paul, but it is not known when he was converted, or why he was now at Rome. The Greeks speak of him as one of the seventy disciples, and make him bishop of Colophon, in the province of Asia.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

21. that ye also—as I have been discussing things relating to you, so that ye also may know about me (compare Col 4:7, 8). Neander takes it, "Ye also," as well as the Colossians (Col 4:6).

my affairs—Greek, "the things concerning me."

how I do—how I fare.

Tychicus—an Asiatic, and so a fit messenger bearing the respective Epistles to Ephesus and Colosse (Ac 20:4; 2Ti 4:12).

a beloved brother—Greek, "the beloved brother"; the same epithet as in Col 4:7.

minister—that is, servant.

in the Lord—in the Lord's work.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

But that ye also, as well as other churches,

may know my affairs, how I am used by the Romans in my bonds.

How I do, or rather, what I do, i.e. how I behave myself: see Acts 28:30,31.

Faithful minister: minister is here taken in a large sense, for any that labour in the gospel, such as were not only ordinary pastors, but evangelists and apostles themselves.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do,.... Both his temporal and spiritual affairs; as that he was in bonds, and how he was supported under them, and of what use they were to others; how that he preached in his own hired house, and with what success; and what ministering brethren he had with him to assist him; and in what condition was the church at Rome where he now was: the apostle's life and actions would bear the light, and what he did was worthy of imitation, and must be both delightful and useful to know; and the account he sends, by a messenger hereafter named, of whom he gives the following character, that credit might be the more readily given to his relation:

Tychicus, a beloved brother, and faithful minister in the Lord,

shall make known to you all things. This Tychicus was of Asia, who accompanied the apostle in his travels, and went with him to Rome, from whence he sent him to several places to relate his case, and to know the state of the churches, Colossians 4:7. He calls him "a beloved brother": he was a "brother", because he was a partaker of the same grace, was of the same family and household of God, and was of the same function, being a minister of the Gospel, and was a "beloved" one: he was beloved of God and Christ, and of all the saints that knew him, and especially a brother beloved of the Apostle Paul; and where there is brotherhood, there should be love: he also styles him a "faithful minister in the Lord"; he was a "minister" in the work and service of the Lord, in things pertaining to him; he was one of his appointing, qualifying, and sending; and he preached Christ, and him crucified; and was a "faithful" one, to his Lord or master, in whose name he ministered, to the Gospel which he ministered, and to the souls of men to whom he ministered; and a greater character he could not well have; and therefore it need not be doubted but that he would faithfully relate all things concerning the apostle, and what he said might be depended on as truth.

Geneva Study Bible

{15} But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

(15) A familiar and very amiable declaration of his state, together with a solemn prayer, with which Paul is accustomed to end his epistles.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Ephesians 6:21. Δέ] Serving to make the transition to another subject.

καὶ ὑμεῖς] ye also, not merely the Colossians, Colossians 4:8-9. See Introd. § 2. While most of the older expositors pass over this καί in silence (rightly, however, explained in a general sense by Bengel: “perinde ut alii”), Rückert and Matthies strangely enough think that it stands in contradistinction to the apostle himself. From this there would in fact result the absurd thought: “in order that not only I, but also ye may know how it fares with me.”

τὰ κατʼ ἐμέ] my circumstances, my position, Php 1:22; Colossians 4:7. See Kühner, II. p. 119.

τί πράσσω] more precise definition of τὰ κατʼ ἐμέ: what I experience. i.e. how it fares with me, how I find myself.[317] So often also in classical writers, “de statu et rebus, in quibus quis constitutus est et versatur,” Ellendt, Lex. Soph. II. 629. Comp. Ael. V. H. ii. 35, where the sick Gorgias is asked τί πράττοι, Plato, Theaet. p. 174 B; Soph. Oed. R. 74; and see Wetstein and Kypke.

Τύχικος] See Acts 20:4; Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12. Beyond these passages unknown.

Ὁ ἈΓΑΠΗΤῸς ἈΔΕΛΦῸς ΚΑῚ ΠΙΣΤ. ΔΙΆΚ. ἘΝ ΚΥΡ.] So Paul characterizes Tychicus by way of commendation,[318] and that (a) as his beloved fellow-Christian, and (b) as his faithful official servant. As the latter, he was employed by Paul for just such journeys as the present. Comp. 2 Timothy 4:12. Mark likewise, according to 2 Timothy 4:11, receives from the apostle the testimony that he is for him εὔχρηστος εἰς διακονίαν. Others, like Grotius (comp. Calvin), do not refer διάκονος to the relation to the apostle, but explain it: servant of the gospel [minister evangelii], while Estius and many understand specially the ecclesiastical office of the deacon. But Colossians 4:7, where διάκονος καὶ σύνδουλος are united (the latter word softening the relation of service towards the apostle expressed by διάκονος), speaks in favour of our view.

ἐν κυρίῳ] belongs only to διάκονος, not to ἀδελφός as well (in opposition to Meier and Harless), since only the former had need of a specific definition (comp. on Php 1:14), in order to be brought out in its true relation (and not to bear the semblance of harshness). Not beyond the pale of Christian relations was Tychicus servant of the apostle, but in Christ his service was carried on, Christ was the sphere of the same, inasmuch as Tychicus was official διάκονος of the apostle. ἐν κυρίῳ is attached without an article, because combined with διάκονος so as to form one idea.

[317] Others, like Wolf: what I am doing. But that the reader knew. He was doing the one thing, which always occupied him. See vv. 19, 20.

[318] The assumption of a more special design as regards πιστός, namely, that it is meant to represent Tychicus as a trustworthy reporter (Grotius), is inadmissible, because Tychicus without doubt was known to the readers (Acts 20:4). It was otherwise in relation to the Colossians. See on Colossians 4:7.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Ephesians 6:21-22. Statement regarding Tychicus and his mission.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

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 first written, this or the Colossian.

my affairs] Lit., the things concerning me. So Php 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., “what I 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. Tychicus in 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 Php 1:1; 1 Timothy 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 woman holding 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 diaconos any 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.

Bengel's Gnomen

Ephesians 6:21. Καὶ ὑμεῖς) ye also, as well as others.—πάντα, all things) A salutary relation.—πιστὸς, faithful) who will declare to you the truth.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 21, 22. - MISSION OF TYCHICUS. Verse 21. - But that ye also may know my affairs, how I do. Having referred to his captivity, he thought it natural for the Ephesians to desire more information about him, how he did or fared in his captivity. Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord. Nothing more is known of him than that (with Trophimus) he was a man of Asia (Acts 20:4), who accompanied Paul when traveling from Macedonia to Asia, and was sent by him to various Churches (Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12). The two qualities by which he is noted, lovableness and fidelity, have not only served to embalm his name, but show that he had much of Paul's own character. Shall make known to you all things. Ephesians 6:21

Vincent's Word Studies

That ye also may know, etc.

Compare Cicero to Atticus: "Send us some letter-carrier, that both you may know how it goes with us, and that we may know how you fare and what you are going to do" (v., 18).

Tychicus

See on Colossians 4:7.

A beloved brother

Rev., correctly, the beloved brother. Tychicus is referred to as well known.