The Messengers To Colossae
THE MESSENGERS TO COLOSSAE
COLOSSIANS 4:7-9
This passage tells us about Paul’s two faithful friends. How faithful are we?
For the first time Paul now refers to Tychicus, who carried the three letters to the Lycus Valley (Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon), and to Onesimus who accompanied him. Tychicus was a native of Asia Minor who had accompanied Paul on the journey to Jerusalem to deliver to the church the generous gifts of money collected among the Gentile congregations (Acts 20:4). After Paul was arrested, he apparently accompanied him to Caesarea and then to Rome. On this occasion Paul commissioned him to serve as his delegate to oversee the return of Onesimus and to implement the instructions of the three letters. On a later occasion Paul sent him to Ephesus for an unspecified task (2 Timothy 4:12). The apostle’s affection for Tychicus is reflected in the titles of honor by which he is introduced (4:7). Paul asked him to inform the church about his personal circumstances and to encourage them as he would have done. The oral report undoubtedly concerned Epaphras as well as Paul, since the Colossians would be anxious to know why their pastor had not returned.
The reference to Onesimus (4:9) prepares the church to receive this former runaway slave, who is commended for his faithfulness to God and to Paul. The letter to Philemon deals more specifically with him, and is addressed to at least a portion of the Colossian church (see Philemon 2, “the church in your house,” and Philemon 25, where “your” is plural). Here Paul makes no attempt to cover the complex issues involved, but refers to Onesimus as a Christian of honorable standing. The church is assured that he will also have a report to give, presumably concerning the remarkable circumstances by which he had made his way to Rome, found the apostle and came to faith. While those circumstances are no longer known, they provided the answers to the many questions that the presence of Onesimus prompted, and bore significant witness to the gracious concern of God even for a runaway slave.