Companions of the Apostle Paul

From The Sword & Trowel

   

Having a servant spirit is vital in the Christian life. What is it to be someone described as a ‘beloved brother'? Here we meet some of the Apostle Paul's closets companions and consider our ministry of compassion and service towards others.

Towards the end of Paul’s remarkable letter to the Colossians, written during his first imprisonment in Rome, he names seven men who assisted him at that time, men whose lives continue to challenge and encourage us today.
 
These were not the only fellow workers of Paul, for such significant pastors as Timothy and Titus are not referred to, but the ‘Roman seven’ have much to teach us, and in this article we shall assign to each one a different term to capture his distinctive feature.

Tychicus

The first two to be named are travelling as bearers of the letter, Tychicus being the senior of them. Paul writes: ‘All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you (Colossians 4.7).’ What distinguishing term can we give to this native of Ephesus, a long-time travelling companion with the apostle, who engaged in preaching, evangelism and many other duties besides? The most fitting, surely, is – a servant.
Tychicus had accompanied Paul as a representative of the Gentile churches when he took a great offering of relief to Jerusalem, going at least as far as Miletus with him. He was a courier for the letter to the Ephesians, and possibly carried 2 Corinthians (accompanied by Titus). He was sent by Paul to Crete to minister alongside Titus, and also to Ephesus, probably to succeed Timothy.
Tychicus was one of that early band of preachers who had risked their lives with Paul on his third missionary journey, and now he has been sent by him to Colosse carrying out the captive apostle’s instructions.
Just look at the way Tychicus is described by Paul. He is (verse 7) ‘a beloved brother’, or one for whom Paul had very great affection. His character, lifestyle and love for Christ, drew out the strong affection of Paul.
He also manifested a tremendous concern for Paul’s work and health, being sensitive to his needs and meeting them as far as he could.
To be someone described as a ‘beloved brother’ indicated a person of unselfish friendship and kindness, and it would appear from his record that nothing was too much for Tychicus. A servant spirit was the keynote of his life.

For all his strengths and capacities, he was not an individualist running after his own reputation and glory

The apostle goes on to call him ‘a faithful minister’, because he cared for people. He was a preacher, certainly, but also a personal encourager and exhorter, exercising a great ministry of comfort and challenge. He had believers on his heart.
Being ‘faithful’ also means that he was loyal to the Word, the ideal man, therefore, to send to Colosse at a time when heretics were knocking at the door. He taught the Truth accurately and plainly, as one utterly bound to his high commission.
Then, as if these terms of commendation were not enough, Paul calls Tychicus a ‘fellowservant in the Lord’, a term rich with meaning. First, it describes him as a colleague; a team member. Tychicus, for all his strengths and capacities, was not an individualist running after his own reputation and glory. He was happy to assist the apostle and to work unobtrusively with others.
He gave himself to the ministry as a diligent servant, or slave (in the Greek). A slave was owned by his master, and served his demands and comforts every hour of the day. This was the spirit of Tychicus as a servant of Christ. He would do anything that was required of him.
Paul does not speak of him as a personal servant, but as a ‘fellowservant in the Lord’. He would do anything for the sake of the ministry.
Tychicus will visit Colosse, says Paul, to ‘know your estate,’ or circumstances and to ‘comfort your hearts’, or rather, to encourage you. He will relate to your trials, share your opportunities, and do all he can to help. He will, of course, preach about Christ, lifting him up, teaching wonderful things, and encouraging you in the mission.
Inevitably, he will speak of eternal glory. If your circumstances are hard, he will point your minds to that great, forthcoming, eternal glory. There was no better person for such a task than Tychicus, transparently at the disposal of the Lord, faithful to the Word, and faithful to believers. But his characteristics should be true of all of us, for this is the objective of God’s work in our hearts.
Are we servants, fully at Christ’s disposal, or do we run off after earthly interests? Tychicus, one of the close companions of Paul, is a pattern of unselfish love for Christ which should be the great goal of all our lives.
Of course, it must be said that Paul would have unconsciously attracted to his band of close fellow workers people like himself, who were inspired by his life. If those of us who are ministers were more like Paul, then we would naturally gather likeminded believers in our churches.