Tychicus

servants his mother said to the servants do whatever he tells you in Romans 13 4 it speaks of a civil ruler Paul speaks about us submitting to those in authority over us and then he says of the ruler he is God's servant for our good it's the same word and In Ephesians 6, 21, it refers to the followers of Christ in relation to the Lord.

Paul uses Tychicus as an example.

He says this, Tychicus is a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord.

1 Timothy 3 here.

It refers to those who hold office within the church, and Paul begins with the words, likewise, let the deacons be.

We're going to read from verse 11.

Tychicus will tell you about my activities.

He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.

So first, for those who know who they are in Christ, they will love God's people sacrificially.

And we see this somewhat given to us in the first few verses there, in verses 7 through to 9.

Now, it's here that Paul explains why he sent Tychicus.

I'm going to say the names differently, by the way, just to let you know.

Already he conciliates them.

It was Epaphroditus who brought him this account, but he sends the epistle by Tychicus, retaining Epaphroditus with himself.

And of the love, he saith, which ye have toward all the saints, not toward this one and that, of course then toward us also verse five because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens he speaks of the good things to come this is with a view to their temptations that they should not seek their rest here for lest any should say and where is the good of their love toward the saints if they themselves are in affliction He says, We rejoice that ye are securing for yourselves a noble reception in heaven.

Because of the hope, he saith, which is laid up, he shows its secureness, whereof he heard before in the word of the truth.

So that one ought not to discourse alike to all, Greeks, I mean, and brethren, by no means, for this were the very extreme of senselessness.

Verse 7.

All my affairs shall Tychicus make known unto you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord." Admirable! How great is the wisdom of Paul! Observe, he doth not put everything into his epistles, but only things necessary and urgent.

In the first place, being desirous of not drawing them out to a length, and, secondly, to make his messenger more respected, by his having also somewhat to relate.

Onesimus makes an appearance in the book of Colossians, verse 9.

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me.

He's the dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant of the Lord.

I'm sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.

How many of you are familiar with these two names, their names found in the scripture? And maybe my seniors, you would stay out of this for just a moment because we briefly, briefly talked about this in New Testament survey last year.

But for all of my freshmen, how many of you are familiar with these two names, Tychicus and Epaphras? Anybody familiar with either one of those names? Just show me your hand.

Tychicus, Epaphras, some of you are like, ah, maybe so, not really sure.

Okay, Tychicus and Epaphras.

If you were to ask the ordinary churchgoer, who is Tychicus and who is Epaphras, they would be absolutely clueless.

We just asked a room full of Bible college students who are studying the Bible every day of their lives, who's Tychicus and who's Epaphras, and most of us are like, even if I've heard the name, I don't really know who that is.

But though we're not familiar with them, I want you to know that these two men have been responsible for shaping our theology and deepening our love for Jesus for the last 2,000 years.

And some of you are going, how? Like, how have they shaped my theology, and how have they helped to deepen my love for Jesus when I've not even heard their name before? Can I just say this as we get started? Unknown doesn't mean ineffective.