Colossians 4:7

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7, 8) These verses present an almost exact verbal coincidence with Ephesians 6:21-22, on which see Notes. In the verses, however, which follow, the particularity and detail of this Epistle stand in marked contrast with the brief generality of Ephesians 6:23-24. Remembering that the two Epistles were sent at the same time, and that Ephesus was a church far better known than Colossæ, we cannot but regard this as supporting the idea of an encyclical character in our Epistle to the Ephesians.

Benson Commentary

Colossians 4:7-9. All my state — The things which relate to myself; shall Tychicus declare unto you — See on Ephesians 6:21. With Onesimus, who is one of you — Or, rather, who is from you, as εξ υμων seems to mean; or, who is your countryman; for it does not appear that he could be a member of the church at Colosse before he left his master Philemon, since, it is certain he was converted after that period by the apostle at Rome. See Philemon 1:10.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:7-9 Ministers are servants to Christ, and fellow-servants to one another. They have one Lord, though they have different stations and powers for service. It is a great comfort under the troubles and difficulties of life, to have fellow Christians caring for us. Circumstances of life make no difference in the spiritual relation among sincere Christians; they partake of the same privileges, and are entitled to the same regards. What amazing changes Divine grace makes! Faithless servants become faithful and beloved brethren, and some who had done wrong, become fellow-workers of good.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you - See these verses explained in the notes at Ephesians 6:21-22.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. Tychicus—(See on [2432]Eph 6:2).

who is a beloved brother—rather, "the beloved brother"; the article "the" marks him as well known to them.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you: the apostle drawing to a conclusion, that he at so great distance might certify them of his love to them, and care for them, doth here acquaint them that with this Epistle he was sending two persons of integrity, for their satisfaction and his, viz. Tychicus, an Asiatic, their countryman and his fellow traveller, Acts 20:4, whom he sometimes sent to others, 2 Timothy 4:12 Titus 3:12, who would give them to understand what circumstances he was in, and all his affairs: see Ephesians 6:21,22.

Who is a beloved brother; whom he recommends to them as being a good man, a brother, as Timothy, Colossians 1:1, and Epaphroditus, Philippians 2:25, beloved of the people.

And a faithful minister; and whom he had experimentally found to be a faithful deacon, in the larger acceptation, or minister, i.e. of Jesus Christ, and his messenger.

And fellow servant in the Lord; and owned as his colleague, or

fellow servant in the Lord, that they might more kindly receive him.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you,.... This Tychicus was an Asian by birth; see Acts 20:4. His name signifies "fortunate", and is the same with "Fortunatus" in Latin, which name is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:17 whether he is the same person may be inquired. It is said that this Tychicus was one of the seventy disciples, and was afterwards bishop of Chalcedon. However, he was employed by the apostle as a messenger to Colosse, as he also was to Ephesus, see Ephesians 6:21, to inform the members of the church of his state and condition, how it was with him; as that he was in prison at Rome, for the sake of the Gospel, which he continued to abide by, and held fast the profession of, not being in the least moved and intimidated by what he suffered, being supported by the presence of Christ, and the discoveries of his love; and therefore, though his outward state was very mean and uncomfortable, yet the inward state of his soul was right and good; the inward man was renewed day by day. He might also send word by him what his thoughts were about his deliverance, or his dissolution, and what expectation he had of either of these: and that they might give the greater credit to what Tychicus should relate from him, he gives him the following character,

who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister: the same character is given of him in Ephesians 6:21; see Gill on Ephesians 6:21 to which is here added,

and fellow servant in the Lord; he was a "brother" in Christ, being a partaker of the same grace, and in the same spiritual relation; and "beloved" of God, and Christ, of all the churches and saints that knew him, and especially by the apostle; and was also a "minister" of the Gospel, a preacher of Jesus Christ, and a "faithful" one to Christ, to his Gospel, and the souls of men; than which a greater character cannot well be given: and though the apostle was endued with such superior gifts, grace, and usefulness; yet he calls this ministering brother a "fellow servant in the Lord"; he having a commission to preach from the same Lord, and having the same Gospel intrusted with him, and being engaged in the same good work, and having the same ends in view, the glory of Christ, and the good of souls; though he had not equal abilities and qualifications, and was not in the same high post and office as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Geneva Study Bible

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Colossians 4:7-9. Sending of Tychicus, and also of Onesimus. Comp. on Ephesians 6:21 f.

By ἀδελφ. Paul expresses the relation of Tychicus as a Christian brother generally; by διάκονος, his special relation as the apostle’s official servant, in which very capacity he employs him for such missions; and by σύνδουλος (Colossians 1:7) he delicately, as a mark of honour, places him as to official category on a footing of equality with himself; while ἐν κυρίῳ, belonging to the two latter predicates,[171] marks the specific definite character, according to which nothing else than simply Christ

His person, word, and work—is the sphere in which these relations of service are active. Comp. Ephesians 6:21.

εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο] for this very object, having a retrospective reference as in Romans 13:6, 2 Corinthians 5:5 (in opposition to Hofmann), in order, namely, that ye may learn from him all that concerns me. The following ἵνα γνῶτε τὰ π. ὑμῶν (see the critical remarks) is explicative; πάντα ὑμ. γνωρ. τὰ ὧδε in Colossians 4:9 then corresponds to both. Comp. on Ephesians 6:22.

παρακαλ.] may comfort, in your anxiety concerning me, respecting my position. With the reading γνῷ τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν, the reference would be to the sufferings of the readers; δείκνυσι καὶ αὐτοὺς ἐν πειρασμοῖς ὄντας καὶ παρακλήσεως χρήζοντας, Theophylact, comp. Chrysostom.

σὺν Ὀνησίμῳ] belonging to ἔπεμψα. As to this slave of Philemon, see Introd. to the Epistle to Philemon. Paul commends him[172] as his faithful (πιστός, as in Colossians 4:7, not: having become a believer, as Bähr would render it) and beloved brother, and designates him then as Colossian, not in order to do honour to their city (Chrysostom, Theophylact), but in order to bespeak their special sympathy for Onesimus, the particulars as to whom, especially as regards his conversion, he leaves to be communicated orally.

ἐξ ὑμῶν] As a Colossian he was from among them, that is, one belonging to their church. Comp. Colossians 4:12.

τὰ ὧδε] the state of matters here, to which τὰ κατʼ ἐμέ, Colossians 4:7, especially belonged.

[171] διάκονος and σύνδουλος are also connected by the common attribute πιστός, and separated from ἀδελφός, which has its special adjective. Chrysostom, moreover, aptly remarks on the different predicates: τὸ ἀξιόπιστον συνήγαγεν.

[172] And how wisely and kindly, after what had happened with Onesimus! Yet Holtzmann holds that of the whole verse only the name Onesimus is characteristic, and reckons the verse to owe its existence to that name.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Colossians 4:7-18. COMMENDATION OF THE BEARERS OF THE LETTER, WITH SALUTATIONS FROM HIS FELLOW-WORKERS AND HIMSELF.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7–9. Personal Information

7. All my state] Rather more lit., My circumstances generally. The same phrase occurs Php 1:12.—Latin Versions, Quœ circa me sunt omnia.

Tychicus] Cp. Ephesians 6:21; and our note there. Tychicus is named also Acts 20:4; 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12. He appears to have belonged to the province of Asia, and probably to Ephesus. He was, evidently, loved and honoured by the Apostle; was beside him, occasionally at least, in his first imprisonment; and was faithful to him to the end. His name, though not common, occurs in inscriptions and on coins belonging to Asia Minor.—Wyclif, curiously, has “titicus.”

See the art. Tychicus in Smith’s Dict. of the Bible; Ellicott on Ephesians 6:21; Lightfoot here, and p. 11 of his Philippians.

a beloved brother] Lit., and better, the &c. So in Ephesians. The article indicates a certain speciality; almost as if it were “that beloved brother, &c.”

faithful minister] Greek, diaconos. So in Ephesians. On the word, see note above, on Colossians 1:7; and on Ephesians 6:21. The word here (and in Eph.) points probably to Tychicus’ personal helping attendance on the Apostle.

and fellowservant] A designation not given in Ephesians.

On the word see note above on Colossians 1:7, where Epaphras is similarly denoted. It is interesting to find these two Asiatic saints alike described by their discriminating father in God as eminently known for active unselfish service.—Lightfoot gives the fact that the term fellowservant was a customary address, in the early Church, from a bishop to a deacon (diaconos); probably because of its use here and Colossians 1:7; an interesting instance of the birth and growth of formula.

in the Lord] His life, and work, was conditioned and animated by his union with Christ and His Church.

Bengel's Gnomen

Colossians 4:7. Τὰ κατʼ ἐμὲ, the things concerning me) Ephesians 6:21.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 7-18. - SECTION X. PERSONAL MESSAGES AND GREETINGS. St. Paul concludes his letter, first, by introducing to the Colossians its bearer, Tychicus, along with whom he commends to them their own Onesimus, returning to his master (vers. 7-9); then, according to his custom, he conveys greetings from his various friends and helpers present with him at the time, in particular from Mark, who was likely to visit them, and from Epaphras their own devoted minister (vers. 10-14); thirdly, he sends greeting to the neighbouring and important Church of Laodicea, specially mentioning Nympha, with directions to exchange letters with the Laodiceans, and with a pointed warning to Archippus, probably a Colossian, having some charge over that Church (vers. 15-17). Finally, he appends, with his own hand, his apostolic greeting and benediction (ver. 18). The personal references of this section, though slight and cursory, are of peculiar value, bearing themselves the strongest marks of genuineness, and decisively attesting the Pauline authorship of the Epistle. At the same time, we gather from them several independent facts throwing light on St. Paul's position during his imprisonment, and on his relations to other leading personages of the Church. Verse 7. - All that relates to me (literally, the things concerning me) Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant (bondman), will make known to you (Ephesians 6:21, 22; Titus 3:12; 1 Timothy 6:12; 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Philippians 2:25). Tychicus appears first in Acts 20:4, where he is called an "Asian" (of the Roman province of Asia, of which Ephesus was capital), along with Trophimus, who, in Acts 21:29, is styled "the Ephesian." He accompanied the apostle on his voyage to Jerusalem (A.D. 58), with a number of others representing different Churches, and deputed, as Lightfoot thinks, in conformity with the directions of 1 Corinthians 16:3, 4, to convey the contributions raised for "the poor saints at Jerusalem." Trophimus was with St. Paul in Jerusalem (Acts 21:29), and so, probably, his colleague (the words, "as far as Asia," in Acts 20:4, are of very doubtful authority), he is now with the apostle in his imprisonment at Rome, about to be sent home with these two letters (comp. Ephesians 6:21, 22), and in charge of Onesimus, on whose account the apostle sends a private letter to Philemon. In the interval between the first (present) and second imprisonment (2 Timothy), the apostle revisited the Asiatic Churches (so we infer from 1 Timothy 1:3), and Tychicus rejoined him; for we find St. Paul proposing to send him to Titus in Crete (Titus 3:12), and finally sending him from Rome once more to Ephesus (2 Timothy 6:12). These facts sustain the high terms in which he is here spoken cf. "In the Lord" belongs both to "minister" and "fellow servant." This language is almost identical with that used of Epaphras in Colossians 1:7 (see notes). Tychicus is "minister" (διάκονος), not to Paul himself (Acts 19:22; Acts 13:5, ὑπηρέτης), nor in the official sense of Philippians 1:1, but "of Christ," "of the gospel," or "the Church" (1 Thessalonians 3:2), as St. Paul himself (Colossians 1:23, 25). He is "a beloved brother" to his fellow believers, "a faithful minister" of the Lord Christ, and "a fellow servant" with the apostle (Colossians 1:7; Colossians 4:10; Philippians 2:25). Colossians 4:7

Vincent's Word Studies

Tychicus

Mentioned Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12.

Minister (διάκονος)

Probably to Paul himself. Compare Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4. Scarcely in the official sense of deacon.

Fellow-servant (σύνδουλος)

Used by Paul only here and Colossians 1:7, of Epaphras. By this term he designates Tychicus as, in common with himself, a servant of Jesus Christ. Probably not with a strict, but with a quasi official reference.