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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