Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 6 · Verse and explication 21 – Verse and explication 22
Verse 21. But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus a beloved brother and faithfull minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things.
THe Apostle, being now in the third part of the chapter, to conclude the Epistle, doth, first, shew, that because he neither could write, nor was it expedient to write of every thing in the body of the Epistle, he had concredited much to the bearer, who was to give them an account especially of Pauls own affairs, as how it went with him in prison, how the work of the Gospel did thrive by his Ministery, and generally how he did, or how he carried himself with courage and constancy under every dispensation. And that the bearer might get the more respect and credit, he is described, 1. from his name Tychicus. See Act. 20. -4. 2. from his state as a Christian, in which respect he is called a brother. See upon Philip. 2. 25. doct. 1. and a beloved brother, thereby to shew that he was loved by Paul, and worthy to be loved by them for his piety and parts. 3. from his office, in which respect he was a minister, and a faithfull minister in the Lord, as answering the trust reposed in him by the Lord Christ, whose servant he was. 4. from the confidence which Paul professeth he had of his fidelity in his present imployment, while he perswadeth them he would keep up nothing which it concerned them to know. Hence Learn, 1. The written Word of God in Scripture is so contrived, that though nothing necessary unto salvation be omitted. Joh. 20. 31. yet our vain curiositie to know other things not so necessary to be known, is not thereby satisfied: for, Paul, having committed unto writing the sum of necessary doctrine, relating both to faith and manners for the Churches benefit in all ages, doth not write any thing of his own particular concernments, but intrusteth them to the bearer, as not so necessary to be known to the ages following as to the age then present; But that ye may also know my affairs, Tychicus shall make known all things. 2. The life and conversation of Christians, and chiefly of Ministers, in publick and privat, under all cases, ought to be such, as they need not to be ashamed, who do know it; yea, and edification to the Church of God may arise from the knowledge of it: for, such was Pauls conversation, he acquainteth Tychicus with all, and sendeth him to Ephesus to acquaint the Church there with all. 3. It concerneth Christians much to inform themselves of the life and way of eminent men in the Church of God, and chiefly of those who are, or have been sufferers for truth, and of the severall passages of Gods gracious providence towards such, though not to satisfie their vain curiosity, Act. 17. 21. yet that thereby they may be incited to simpathize with them, Heb. 13. 3. to follow their example, Iam. 5. 10. and to blesse the Lord on their behalf, 2 Cor. 1. 11. for, therefore doth Paul send Tychicus to make them know his affairs, and how he did. 4. A Minister ought to be so affectionate towards his flock, as to prefer their spiritual edification and advantage to his own private concernment: for, though Paul was now every day expecting death, and had few to attend upon him, as appeareth from 2 Tim. 4. 6, 10. with 12, 16. yet he sendeth Tychicus unto them, choosing rather that himself should want an attender, than they a comforter; Tychicus shall make known unto you all things. 5. The Minister of Christ should in like manner be ordered with prudence in giving expressions of his affection towards the flock, least otherwise his imprudent carriage in the manner of what is done, doth more hurt than the thing it self can bring of good and advantage: for, therefore the Apostle doth not commit the evidences of his affection to be carried to them by every man, but one whom he could trust, and they would respect, even to Tychicus a beloved brother and faithfull minister. 6. As Ministers would be loath to give their recommendation and testimony to naughty persons and those who are not deserving, least thereby they wrong the Church of God, and prejudge their own estimation afterwards when the person recommended by them doth not walk answerably; So they should not deny a testimony to those whom they know to be deserving; so far should they be from labouring to obscure and bear down the graces and gifts of God which are eminent in any of their fellow-labourers, of purpose that they themselves alone may be thought of: for, Tychicus was a man deserving, and therefore Paul doth recommend him, which without doubt he would not have done otherwise; Tychicus a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord. 7. Though God may make use of unconverted Ministers to do good in his Church, Matth. 10. 4. with 8. yet no man can be a faithfull Minister, or approved of God in His work, except he have saving grace and be in Christ by faith: for, Tychicus is first a brother as a sound Christian, and then a faithfull minister in the Lord: 8. That Ministers are beloved one of another, and live in love among themselves, is a strong inducement to make the Lords people allow them room in their affections, and receive their message with better will off their hand: and divisions, carnal emulations, and strifes among Ministers themselves, make both their persons and office lose much of their deserved respect among the people: for Paul sheweth, that Tychicus was beloved by him, to make him have the more respect from them; Tychicus a beloved brother. 9. It is in a singular manner required of a Minister, and the prime piece of a Ministers commendation, that he be faithfull, that is, diligent in his work, 2 Tim. 4. 2. sincere in his aimes and endeavours at the glory of God and the good of souls, 1 Pet. 4. 11. neither adding nor pairing unto what God hath committed unto him to speak, 2 Cor. 2. 17. Whatever a Minister be for learning, prudence, utterance and other abilities, if he be not faithfull, he is but naught, Matth. 25. 23, with 26. for, Paul commendeth Tychicus from this, that he was a faithfull minister in the Lord. 10. A faithfull Minister will give proof of his fidelity in all the pieces of his imployment, not only in publick preaching, but also in his private coversing with the Lords people; yea, and in every thing will labour to answer the trust reposed upon him: for, Paul sheweth Tychicus would be faithfull, even in relating the case and state of Pauls particular affairs; he shall make known unto you all things.
Verse 22. Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
IN prosecution of the former purpose, he sheweth, first, he had not fallen upon Tychicus accidentally, but had chosen and sent him of purpose. And, next, declareth a twofold end for which he sent him, 1. that he might acquaint them with Paul's affairs, as ver. 21. And 2. that he might be comfortable unto them by his presence, message, preaching and otherwayes. Doct. 1. The greater paines are taken by Christ's servants to bring matter of edification and spiritual consolation unto the Lords people, they ought to receive it with so much the better will and likeing: for, Paul sheweth that both he and Tychicus were at the pains, the one to send, the other to be sent unto them, of purpose, hereby to induce them the more to receive the message sent; Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose. 2. The putting a right impression of the case of Christ's suffering servants, and the state of the Gospels thriving upon the hearts of Christians in other remote parts of the Church, is a work worth the care and pains of most eminent Ministers, if it were to make them undergo a long and tedious journey for that same very end: for, Tychicus was sent unto them for the same purpose, that they might know his affairs. 3. We should labour so to inform our selves of the case and carriage of others, and how it goeth with the affairs of Christ's Kingdom elsewhere, as to be drawing matter of spiritual edification thence, and consequently not to feed our curious humour: for, Tychicus in making known Pauls affairs, was to aim at their spiritual consolation, much more were they to aim at it themselves; that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. 4. It is the duty of every Christian, and chiefly of a faithfull Minister, to have this end proposed unto himself in all his friendly visits bestowed upon his acquaintance, and chiefly upon his flock in all his familiar conferences with them, in all the intelligence he communicateth unto them, concerning Gods dealing with his Churches abroad, even that thereby they may not trifle-by precious time, or only satisfie curious ears, but furnish some matter of spiritual edification for bettering the inward man: for, Tychicus was to make them know Pauls affairs, for this end, that thereby he might comfort their hearts. 5. To know the several passages of Gods gracious providence towards His suffering servants, together with their undaunted courage under sufferings, and the use which God doth make of their sufferings to advance His truth and cause, is and may be sufficient ground of comfort and incouragement unto the Lords people, against the sorrow and sadnesse, which their sharp sufferings, considered in themselves, cannot choose but affect the lovers of truth with: for, Paul implyeth, that their hearing of his sufferings had sadded them, and sheweth the relation of Gods dealing with him would comfort them; that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. 6. A Christian sufferer, supported by God, will not be so anxious about his own case, as the case of others of the Lords people whom he knoweth to be in sorrow and heavinesse; yea, and ready to halt, and be scandalized for His cause: for, Paul, knowing their grief, and fearing their fainting at his tribulations, chapter 3. 14. doth send Tychicus of purpose to comfort their hearts.