Tychicus the Ambassador

  While in prayer with my pastor, I was struck by the final words of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians.

Final Greetings

21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters,[c] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

• After Paul shared his wonderful teaching on the Armor of God, the Ephesians would have had a number of questions, indeed, every verse of this letter would have need 'an interpreter'
• Tychicus, whose name is rich in meaning, not only delivered this letter but would have spent some time with the church in Ephesus, not just to report on Paul's state of affairs, but on every aspect of the growing Christian community.
• Tychicus was also the bearer of Paul's letter to the Colossians. Col 4:7 and made was an emissary, perhaps at the same time, to Titus (Titus 3:12)
• An Ambassador, or Emissary, simply means 'One who is sent'. The implication is that they are sent by a governing authority on their behalf to build strong relationships between two governments.  This is the Latin root, in Greek the word would be 'Apostellos' from which we get our word 'Apostle'.
• We know so little but speculation about this man, one thing we need to discover is the meaning behind his name.
• Act_20:4. Paul's companion and fellow laborer in the gospel (Act_20:4); 
• accompanied him in part on his return journey from the third missionary circuit; "of Asia." 
• Trophimus went forward with Paul to Jerusalem (Act_21:29), but Tychicus stayed behind in Asia, perhaps at Miletus (Act_20:15; Act_20:38). 
• With Paul again in his first Roman imprisonment: Col_4:7-8, "a (Greek the, the article marks that Tychicus was well known to them) beloved (in relation to the Christian community) brother and a faithful minister (in missionary services) and fellow servant in the Lord (in serving the same Master)." (from Fausset on 'Tychicus'.

   Now let us make this practical, is there a 'Tychicus' call on your life?

• Are you able to go on a mission for the purpose of sharing news of an 'apostolic' nature?
• Are you in close relationship with an apostolic father such that you  could be entrusted with such a mission?
• Does this passage speak to you about the Advance of the Kingdom and the spread of the Good News of the One True God?
• What are the supporting roles to such a call? [look at Ephesians 6:18-20]

  As ever this blog is intended to stir discussion... hope it fosters some interesting dialogue.