Eph 6:21-24 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 21. But that ye may know my affairs . May understand my condition, my feelings, and in what I am engaged. To them it could not but be a subject of deep interest, And how I do . Gr., " What I do ;" that is, how I am employed. Tychicus . Tychicus was of the province of Asia, in Asia Minor, of which Ephesus was the capital. See . It is not improbable that he was of Ephesus, and that he was well known to the church there. He also carried the letter to the Colossians, , and probably the second epistle to Timothy, . Paul also proposed to send him to Crete to succeed Titus, . He was high in the confidence of Paul, but it is not known when he was converted, or why he was now at Rome. The Greeks speak of him as one of the seventy disciples, and make him bishop of Colophon, in the province of Asia. (a) "a beloved brother"

Ephesians 6:21-24

Verse 21. But that ye may know my affairs. May understand my condition, my feelings, and in what I am engaged. To them it could not but be a subject of deep interest,

And how I do. Gr., "What I do;" that is, how I am employed.

Tychicus. Tychicus was of the province of Asia, in Asia Minor, of which Ephesus was the capital. See Acts 20:4. It is not improbable that he was of Ephesus, and that he was well known to the church there. He also carried the letter to the Colossians, Col 4:7, and probably the second epistle to Timothy, 2Ti 4:12. Paul also proposed to send him to Crete to succeed Titus, Tit 3:12. He was high in the confidence of Paul, but it is not known when he was converted, or why he was now at Rome. The Greeks speak of him as one of the seventy disciples, and make him bishop of Colophon, in the province of Asia.

(a) "a beloved brother" Acts 20:4 Verse 22. Whom I have sent unto you. The churches where Paul had preached, would feel a great interest in his welfare. He was a prisoner at Rome, and it was doubtful what the result would be. In this situation, he felt it proper to despatch a special messenger to give information about his condition; to state what was doing in Rome; to ask the prayers of the churches; and to administer consolation to them in their various trials. The same sentiment, in regard to the embassy of Tychicus, is expressed in the epistle to the Colossians, Col 4:7,8. No small part of the consolation a which he would impart to them would be found in these invaluable letters which he bore to them from the apostle.

(b) "have sent" Col 4:7,8 Verse 23. Peace be to the brethren. The epistle is closed with the usual salutations. The expression, "peace to you," was the common form of salutation in the East, Mt 10:13; Lk 24:36; Rom 15:33; comp. Gall 6:16, 1Pet 5:14, 3Jn 1:14, and is still the "salam" which is used --the word salam meaning peace.

And love with faith. Love united with faith; not only desiring that they might have faith, but the faith which worked by love.

From God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Father and the Son are regarded as equally the author of peace and love. 2Cor 13:14.

That love our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Cor 16:22.

In sincerity. Marg., with incorruption. With a pure heart; without dissembling; with- out hypocrisy. There could not be a more appropriate close of the epistle than such a wish; there will be nothing more needful for us, when we come to the close of life, than the consciousness that we love the Lord Jesus Christ IN SINCERITY. To writer and reader may this be equally the inestimable consolation then! Better, far better then will be the evidence of such sincere love, than all the wealth which toll can gain, all the honours which the world can bestow--than the most splendid mansion, or the widest fame.

The subscription to this epistle, like those affixed to the other epistles, is of no authority, but in this instance there is every reason to believe that it is correct. Comp. Notes at the end of the epistle to the Romans and I Corinthians.

End of Barnes Notes on Ephesians