Introducing Tychicus and Paul’s Final Wish for Peace
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. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:21-23 (NIV)
Paul has reached the end of the letter, which he has been dictating. At this point he has probably taken the pen from the scribe’s hand to add some final sentences in his own handwriting. He did this at the end of Galatians (6:11), 2 Thessalonians (3:17), 1 Corinthians (16:21) and Colossians (4:18).
‘Tychicus’ was Paul’s messenger, affectionately called ‘the dear brother and faithful servant’ and he adds now, for the last time in the letter, the phrase that conditions all true Christian living, service and relationships – ‘in the Lord.’ Tychicus is the bearer of the letter. We first hear of him as one of the representatives of the Asian church who went with Trophimus from Greece and presumably on to Jerusalem at the end of Paul’s third missionary journey (Acts 20:4). In Titus 3:12 Paul speaks of sending him or Artemus to Titus, while 2 Timothy 4:12 refers to him as actually sent to Ephesus from Rome, implying he was one of those who served with Paul in his final days. Tychicus would explain in greater detail how Paul was and how he was going, and beyond that ‘encourage you.’
It was common in the ancient world for the writer to end their letter with a wish (usually a secular wish) for the reader’s health and happiness. Paul includes his here. He ‘Christianised’ the opening greeting and so now he ‘Christianises’ the final wish. ‘Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ’ (6:23). Peace has been a characteristic word through the whole letter. In the doctrinal section at the beginning, Paul explained how Christ is our ‘peace,’ how He broke down the dividing wall and created a single new humanity, ‘thus making peace’ and then how He ‘came and preached peace’ (2:14-17). Because of this, in the ethical section that follows, Paul has begged them both to ‘keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’ (4:2,3), to ‘live a life of love, just as Christ loved us’ (5:2). Peace and love belong together. Peace is reconciliation and love is both its source and result. Paul paints a picture of the church fellowship and the Christian home pervaded with love and peace.
I am sending you a dear friend, Tychicus, because I care so deeply about each of you. He is a beloved brother and trustworthy minister in our Lord Jesus. He will share with you all the concerns that I have for your welfare and will inform you of how I am getting along. And he will also prophesy over you to encourage your hearts.
So may God shower his peace upon you my beloved friends. And may the blessings of faith and love fill your hearts from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus the Messiah Ephesians 6:21-23 (the Passion Translation)