Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 43

Paul's Final Greetings to the Colossian Believers Part 1

Colossians 4:7-9 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. KJV

Paul begins now to end his only letter written to the believers in Colosse that he (according to his own words in this letter never met face to face) as he declared earlier in the letter with these words, "For I want you to know how great is my solicitude for you [how severe an inward struggle I am engaged in for you] and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen my face {and} known me personally." (Colossians 2:1) (Amplified Bible), he wants them to know the details of his condition and of his missionary work so he sends Tychicus to them with this letter and news concerning him as he declares with these words, "All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:" (Colossians 4:7) (KJV). Apparently Tychicus was someone Paul trusted greatly and could count on, his name means fortuitous and fortunate or one who is supremely favored as we also find Paul using him in this same capacity to serve the Ephesian believers, "Now that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord [and His service], will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may console {and} cheer {and} encourage {and} strengthen your hearts." (Ephesians 6:21-22) (Amplified Bible).

Paul perhaps was cautious not to disclose all of the details or the names of all of the converts to Christ (seeing that some were in Caesar's household) concerning his missionary journey's in case some of his enemies would confiscate the letters and know his affairs and future plans and would discover the names of the men and women in Caesars household putting their lives in immediate danger, so to make sure this would never happen, Paul left these delicate details out of his letters and trusted them to the mind/memories of his 'fellowservants' such as Tychicus. The English word 'fellowservants' is translated by the Greek word sundoulos meaning a co-slave, that is, servitor or ministrant of the same master (human or divine): In this case, the Master being our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. At the same time, he sends Tychicus to them to deliver this letter and to inform them of his situation, Paul also wanted to know the complete details of how things were going in the Church @ Colosse directly from the Christians in the Church, therefore, he declares to them in closing these words, "Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;" (Colossians 4:8) (KJV).

Most important to the Apostle Paul always was the spiritual state or condition of the Churches bearing the Name of Jesus Christ as we remember these words he wrote to the believers in the Church @ Corinth after he just documented to them all his sufferings he endured for Christ sake (2 Corinthians 11:22-27), "And besides those things that are without, there is the daily [inescapable pressure] of my care {and} anxiety for all the Churches!" (2 Corinthians 11:28) (Amplified Bible). Paul was as concerned for their welfare (even though at the writing of this letter he was in prison in Rome) as they were concerned and touched emotionally and spiritually by his imprisonment. Note: "It is a great comfort, under the troubles and difficulties of life, to have the mutual concern of fellow-Christians." (Matthew Henry). Bringing them news of Paul's continual joy in the Lord, steadfastness in declaring the truth of the Gospel, and his physical condition being well would surely bring comfort to the hearts and minds of the believers in Colosse as they would know that our Lord Jesus Christ was in complete control of Paul's circumstances, and not the enemy of our souls (the devil).

Paul declared our Lord Jesus' comfort with these words to the Corinthian believers, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement), Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble {or} distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God. For just as Christ's [own] sufferings fall to our lot [as they overflow upon His disciples, and we share and experience them] abundantly, so through Christ comfort (consolation and encouragement) is also [shared and experienced] abundantly by us. But if we are troubled (afflicted and distressed), it is for your comfort (consolation and encouragement) and [for your] salvation; and if we are comforted (consoled and encouraged), it is for your comfort (consolation and encouragement), which works [in you] when you patiently endure the same evils (misfortunes and calamities) that we also suffer {and} undergo. And our hope for you [our joyful and confident expectation of good for you] is ever unwavering (assured and unshaken); for we know that just as you share {and} are partners in [our] sufferings {and} calamities, you also share {and} are partners in [our] comfort (consolation and encouragement)." (2 Corinthians 1:3-7) (Amplified Bible).

Paul sends along with Tychicus 'Onesimus', "With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here." (Colossians 4:9) (KJV), whose name means one who is profitable, however, this did not seem to be the case with this man because when Paul met him, he was actually a runaway slave fleeing from his human master Philemon, they both slave and master were from the city of Colosse or close there by, but this slave Onesimus was converted to Christ and is now exactly what his name means profitable to these Colossian believers and to the Apostle Paul also as he declared in his letter to his human master Philemon with these words, "I appeal to you for my [own spiritual] child, Onesimus [meaning profitable], whom I have begotten [in the faith] while a captive in these chains. Once he was unprofitable to you, but now he is indeed profitable to you as well as to me." (Philemon 1:10-11) (Amplified Bible).

"Paul was the more anxious to know the state of the Colossians, on account of the seductions to which they were exposed from false teachers; owing to which he had 'great conflict for' them (Colossians 2:1)." JFB Commentary

"Onesimus was a native of some part of Phrygia, if not of Colosse itself; and being lately converted to the Christian faith by the instrumentality of the Apostle, he would be able, on this account, to give them satisfactory information concerning the Apostle’s state, which would be doubly acceptable to them as he was their countryman. These brethren could give an account of the transactions at Rome, relative to the Apostle and Christianity, which it might not be prudent for him to commit to writing. The reign of Nero was not only cruel, but suspicious, jealous, and dangerous." Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…