Picture the scene, Paul awaiting trial and under house-arrest in Rome, the capital of the world. Hundreds of new Christians across Asia Minor, Greece, Macadonia and Syria. Decievers, false teachers, "wolves" prowling amidst the churches. Persecution rising from the state and populace. The Apostles seperated, most killed for Christs sake. Stories reach Paul's ears of the Church at Collosse being led astray with strict rules on food and drink. He decides to write to the Churches at Ephesus and Collosse. The letters need to travel thousands of miles across the Roman empire, across the Adriatic Sea, over Greece, and to Asia. Who does Paul turn to? You've guessed it, Tychicus.
Tychicus had shown what a great friend of Paul he was, and how reliable he was in the Lord's service once already. As Paul journeyed across the Eastern Roman Empire, he took a collection for the poor in Jerusalem, not wanting to forget the Church back home. The Churches in Galatia, Corinth and Ephesus gave gladly towards their brothers and sisters in Judea. Luke lists the people involved with carrying the great collection back to Jerusalem:
"Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus."Luke also writes about the joy with which the evangelists were greeted when arriving:
"After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified God."
Shortly after this Paul was arrested and put on trial, it was after this time that he was sent to Rome. Accompanying him on his ship-prison were Luke and Aristarchus*. I also wonder if Tychicus was there with him. But, wether he was or not, he did later rejoin Paul in Rome.
It is here that we pick up the story, with Paul writing to the Ephesians and Colossians, the task of carrying the letters is entrusted to Tychicus (which is why i think he may have travelled with Paul on the journey, during which he was shipwrecked). However Tychy wasnt alone for the trip, he had with him a man named "Onesimus" (meaning "useful"- good name!):
Onesimus had once been a slave in Collosse, belonging to a man named Philemon (Fi-Le-Mon). He had stolen from his master and ran away, all the way to Rome, where, presumably, he had thought he could hide. And he was right, he did manage to hide. But in doing so he met the Apostle Paul, who was under house-arrest at the time. Under Paul's teaching, Onesimus came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Onesimus, with Paul's guidance, decided to return to his old master. It turned out that Paul knew Philemon, who was a Christian believer! (Isnt God's divine providence wonderful, sometimes I wonder if our Lord laughs at our amazement at these things!) Paul wrote another letter for Philemon asking him to accept Onesimus back.
So the two of them, Tychicus and Onesimus set out to take the three letters to their recipients, along with the love and prayers of Paul and the Roman church. They endured the long journey and we have a mention of them in the letters, this is what Paul says in Ephesians: (I love these little endings to his letters!)
"So that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts."So it is, that Tychicus, a man hardly known, carried three letters of our New Testament in his jacket pocket across the Roman Empire, accompanied by the transformed slave, Onesimus. He is also mentioned in places as a cover minister, helping out Titus in Crete, and Timothy in Ephesis.
I planned only to write a small amount, but I love these stories, tales of the people who were true friends of Paul and who helped to forge the early church! In these people we can see the Holy Spirit working to continue the Lords Work, and we should pray to be filled with the Spirit and to also make such worthy contributions towards the Church today.
*Aristarchus was another longtime companion of Paul, whom I hope to write a little bit about another time!
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