21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might

know our affairs, and that he might comfort your

hearts.

23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith

21 ἵνα δε είδητε και μεις τα κατ' εμε, τι πρασσω, παντα μιν γνωρισει Τυχικος ὁ αγαπητος αδελφος και πιςος διακονος εν Κυρίῳ

22 Ον επεμψα προς ὑμας εις αυτο τουτο, ἵνα γνωτε τα περι ἡμων, και παρακαλεση τας καρδιας ὑμων,

23 Ειρηνη τοις αδελφοις,

και αγαπη μετά πίςεως απο

from God the Father, and Θεου πατρος και Κυρίου Ιη

the Lord Jesus Christ.

σου Χριςου.

Ver. 21.1. That ye also may know the things relating to me, &c. Τα κατ' Αμε. We have this expression likewise, Philip. i. 12. The apostle means, that he wished the Ephesians, as well as the Philippians and Colossians, to know what success he had had in preaching at Rome, what opposition he had met with, what comfort he enjoyed under his sufferings, what converts he had made to Christ, and in what manner the evidences of the gospel affected the minds of the inhabitants of Rome.

2. Tychicus-will make known to you all things, &c. This passage is clear confutation of those who hold, that this epistle originally had a general inscription, and was directed to no particular church. For how could Ty. chicus be sent to the saints which are, and to the believers in Christ Jesus in all countries, to make them know the apostle's affairs, and thereby to comfort their hearts? It is evident, therefore, that this epistle was sent to the saints of some particular place. And who should they be, but the saints at Ephesus, to whom, as Dr. Lariner has shewed, by the consent of all the ancient MSS. and versions, it was inscribed?

Tychicus and Trophimus are mentioned Acts xx. 4. among those who accompanied Paul to Jerusalem. Wherefore, as he was then on his way thither with the collections, which he had received from the Gentile churches for the poor of the saints in Judea, we may suppose that Tychicus and Trophimus were of the number of the messengers, whom the churches had deputed to attend the apostle when he performed that ministry. In the above quoted passage these two are said to be of Asia. And of Asia Tchicus and Tropbimus. Acts xxi. 19. Trophimus is called an Ephesian. Per. haps l'ychicus was of the same city; which may have been the reason why the apostle sent his letter to the Ephesians by him, that he might comfort

21 Now that ye also may know the things relating to me, AND what I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother, and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things:

22 Whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that ye may know our affairs, and THAT he may comfort your hearts.

23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Now that ye Ephesians also may know the things which have hap pened to me, and what I am doing at present, Tychicus, a Christian brother, greatly beloved by me for his many excellent qualities, and who besides is a faithful minister of Christ, will make known to you all things.

22 This person, so estimable on account of his character, I have sent to you for this very purpose, that ye may know my affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts, by the account he shall give you of every thing relating to me.

23 After the manner of the priests of old, I bless the church at Ephesus, Peace be to the brethren there, and mutual love with increasing faith from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

their hearts by making known to them the things which had happened to him in Rome, and what he was doing there.—But whether he was an Ephe. sian, or not, the character given of Tychicus, That he was a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, sheweth, that he was deservedly honoured with this commission. The same character Paul gave of Tychicus to the Colossians, chap. iv. 7. All things concerning me, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord, will make known to you. -When the apostle, after being released from his first confinement in Rome, visited the churches of Asia, he desired Titus to come to him from Crete, when he should send to him Artemas or Tychicus, to supply his place to the Cretian brethren, Tit. iii. 12. When I shall send Artemas to thee or Tychicus, make haste to come to me at Nicopolis, for there I have determined to winter.—In like manner during the apostle's second imprisonment at Rome, when he desired Timothy to come to him from Ephesus, he wrote to him, 2 Tim. iv. 12. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus, probably to direct the church there during Timothy's absence-These are all the particulars which the scriptures have mentioned concerning Tychicus. They are few in number, but they are sufficient proofs of the great confidence which the apostle placed in him, on account of his ability, faithfulness, and zeal in the cause of Christ.

Ver. 23.-1. Peace to the brethren. It hath been said, that if this epistle was directed to the Ephesians, it is difficult to understand how the apostle contented himself with giving them a general salutation, without mentioning

24 Grace be with all

24 Ἡ χαρις μετα παντων them that love our Lord των αγαπωντων τον Κυριον Jesus Christ in sincerity. ἡμων Ιησουν Χριςον εν αφ θαρσια. Αμην.

Amen.

any of his numerous acquaintance and friends, with whom he had been intimate, during his long residence at Ephesus. But the answer is, there are no particular salutations in the apostle's first epistle to Timothy, notwithstanding Timothy was in Ephesus when it was written. And in the second, there are only salutations to Prisca and Aquila, the apostle's fellow-labour ers, who were in Ephesus occasionally, and to the household of Onesipho rus, on account of the great respect which the head of that family had shewed to the apostle during his second imprisonment in Rome, 2 1 im. i. 16.— In like manner, there are no particular salutations in the epistles to the Galatians, the Philippians, the Thessalonians, and to Titus; because to have sent salutations to individuals, in churches where the apostle was so generally and intimately acquainted, unless there had been some very special reasons for such salutations, might have offended those who were neglected. On the other hand, to have mentioned every person of note in these churches, would have taken up too much room. In writing to the Romans, the case was different. The apostle was personally unknown to the most of them. And

therefore, he could without offence to the rest, take particular notice of all his acquaintance. See Illust. prefixed to Rom. xvi.

Ver. 24.-1. Who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity: Ev apdagola, literally in incorruption. Our love of Christ, like our love of God, is founded in our knowledge of the excellencies of his character, and of the benefits he has conferred on us; and consists in esteem and gratitude: And shews itself by our imitating him, and our obeying his commandments. This is the import of loving our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption, or in sincerity.

2. Amen. This is an Hebrew word, signifying truth. With this word, the Jews ended all their prayers, and most solemn speeches; in which they were followed by the first Christians, who thus signified, that the things which they had spoken, whether to God or men, were their real sentiments and desires. See 2 Peter iii. 18. note 2.