21. But that ye also may know my circumstances, how I fare, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord shall make known to you all things , 22 whom I sent to you for this very purpose, that ye may know our affairs and that he may comfort your hearts.
21.
kai; uJmei'"
]
ye also
as others.
ta; katj ejmev
...]
my circumstances, how I fare
.... Col. 4:7; Phil. 1:12. The next
verse suggests (
parak. t. k. u.J
) that disquieting rumours had reached them.
pavnta ... Tucikov"
...] There is no reserve in his communication. For Tychicus (Acts 20:4
jAsianoi; de; Tuciko;" kai; Trovfimo"
; 2 Tim. 4:12
Tuciko;n de; ajpevsteila eij" [Efeson
; Tit. 3:12
o{tan pevmyw jArtema'n prov" se h] Tucikovn
) see Lightfoot on Col. 4:17. This is the single personal reference in the Epistle, as is the reference to Timothy in the Epistle to the Hebrews (Heb. 13:23). The words
oJ ajgap....ejn kurivw/
form one compound clause. The spiritual kinsmanship of Tychicus with St Paul and his service were alike realised in fellowship with the Lord (cf. Rom. 16:8 f.). This interpretation appears to be more consonant with St Paul's manner than to confine
ejn kurivw/
to
pisto;" diavkono"
.
22.
eij" aujto; t. i{na
...] Comp. 2 Cor. 2:9; Rom. 14:9; 1 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 3:8.
i{na gnw'te...kai; parakalevsh/
] For the change of person compare Col. 4:8
i{na gnw'te
kai; parakalevsh/
(as here), Phil. 2:28
i{na ijdovnte" aujto;n pavlin carh'te kajgw; ajlupovtero" w\
.
ta; peri; hJmw'n
] St Paul now joins his companions with himself: compare Col. 4:10 f.; Philemon 23 f.
jEpafra'" oJ sunaicmavlwtov" mou ejn Cristw'/ jIhsou', Mavrko", jArivstarco", Dhma'", Louka'", oiJ sunergoiv mou
.
The words
parakalevsh/ ta;" kardiva" uJmw'n
imply that the readers had been troubled by news which had reached them perhaps as to St Paul's approaching trial: comp. Eph. 3:13. The phrase is found again in Col. 4:8.
Blessing
(Eph. 6:23, 24).
23. Peace be to the brethren and love with faith from GOD the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption.
A double salutation and blessing. 23, 24. St Paul first addresses the special society ( oiJ ajdelfoiv ); and then all that love the Lord Jesus. The variation eijrhvnh toi'"...hJ cavri" metav ... is to be noticed. Peace is GOD'S gift complete in itself: grace is realised through man's cooperation. Yet in the opening salutations St Paul writes cavri" uJmi'n . In this connexion cavri" is always anarthrous.
The form of the salutation in the third (not the second) person differs from St Paul's usual manner. But compare Gal. 6:16.
23.
eijrhvnh t. aj. kai; ajg. m. p.
] With faith is to be taken with peace and love, since from GOD belongs to both. Peace and love are GOD'S gifts, and faith is the condition of appropriating them. Love occurs in benedictions 1 Cor. 16:24 (
hJ ajg. mou
); 2 Cor. 13:13 (
hJ ajg. t. qeou'
); and peace 2 Thess. 3:16; Gal. 6:16 (cf. Rom. 15:33); 1 Pet. 5:14.
toi'" ajd
.] here only in the Epistle (Eph. 6:10 a false reading). Comp. Eph. 6:21
oJ ajdelfov"
. It occurs in Col. 1:2; 4:15.
ajpo; q. p.
] Gal. 1:3
v.l.
; 2 Tim. 1:2; Tit. 1:4.
24.
hJ c. m. p.º JH cavri"
stands thus absolutely in benedictions: Col. 4:18; 1