Tychicus: A Biblical Church Leader You Probably Have Never Heard Of



Tychicus: A Biblical Church Leader You Probably Have Never Heard Of

Most people would assume an effective ministry could not be carried out from prison or under house arrest.  However, God consistently uses unconventional means to share the Gospel and bring Himself glory.  Paul the Apostles was beaten with rods (Acts 16:22), imprisoned (Eph. 3:1, 4:1, 6:20), lost at sea in a storm (Acts 27:20), shipwrecked (Acts 27:41), and bitten by a viper (Acts 28:3). Paul experienced true suffering, but refused to be a victim. 

Paul worked to glorify God and build up the church in several ways while in prison or under house arrest: he prayed, he sent letters, and he sent people out to minister. Paul’s first step in building up a church was consistent, prayer (Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:3-4; Col. 1:3). From prison, he acted to further the Gospel by sending off letters to churches, offering encouragement, instruction, and loving correction (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, 2 Timothy, and Philemon).  Paul’s third pastoral approach was to send out leaders to encourage and instruct churches.  Timothy is probably the most recognizable example of Paul sending out ministers to help churches.  Paul explains to the Corinthian church, “That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church” (1 Cor. 4:17, ESV).

Tychicus was another minister that Paul sent out, that most people have probably never thought about or heard about.  Be cautious in relegating Tychicus to a meager footnote in the closing of one of Paul’s letters.  Tychicus is probably one of the most overlooked leaders in the early church.

Paul sent Tychicus to Colossae (Col. 4:7-9), Ephesus (2 Tim. 4:12; Col. 4:7), and most likely was also sent to Crete (Titus 1:5, 3:12). Since Paul tells Timothy that he has sent Tychicus to Ephesus, one can assume that Timothy knew Tychicus. Paul in his letter to the church in Colossae mentions that he is sending Tychicus and Onesimus to them (Col. 4:7-8).  This lets the reader know that Tychicus also knew Onesimus, the bondservant behind Paul’s letter to Philemon.  From Colossians 4:7-18, it is safe to assume that Tychicus and Onesimus delivered the letter called Colossians to the church in Colossae.  Since Colossians was a letter destined to be circulated at Laodicea as well (Col. 4:16), their mission was of importance and had a wide ranging impact.  It is also likely that Tychicus delivered the letter we know as Ephesians (Eph. 6:21-22). One could argue, that due to Tychicus and Onesimus’ diligence, the modern reader is able to read Colossians and Ephesians.  For if Paul’s letters to the Colossians and Ephesians had not been faithfully delivered, one might not have it in the Bible.  This inference is fitting considering Tychicus’ name means “fateful”.     

Paul refers to Tychicus as a “beloved brother,” “faithful minister,” and “fellow servant in the Lord” (Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7).  Luke record Tychicus traveling with Paul in Acts and lists him as an “Asian” or “of Asia” (Acts 20:4).  “Asian” probably refers to the Roman province of Asia and is far too general to determine where Tychicus was specifically from. However, this record in Acts supports Tychicus being involved in the early church. One could safely infer that Tychicus was an integral part of Paul’s ministry while Paul was a free man, as well as part of the ministry he launched from prison.  Before relegating oneself to a footnote in someone’s closing letter, understand that each believer serves a purpose in the body or church (Eph. 4:16). The believer questioning his or her purposes, might serve the body in an unconventional role that displays the manifold wisdom of God (Eph. 3:10).  This is why the Apostle Paul makes the argument for humility and unity of the church in his letters (Eph. 4:13, 5:21; 1 Cor. 12:12-31).  Paul explains, “When each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Eph. 4:16).    

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