Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Colossians 4:8
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
8. I have sent ] Greek, “ I sent.” But the English is true to our idiom. He means that the letter and Tychicus are sent together; the aorist, the “epistolary past” of Greek, must be rendered as a perfect in English to convey this thought. So Eph 6:22, where see our note.
for the same purpose ] For this very purpose, R.V. Word for word as in Eph 6:22. The “ purpose ” is that just stated (Col 4:8), and now more fully explained.
that he might know ] That ye might know, R.V. This is the more probable reading, though the text has considerable support, particularly in early Versions. Lightfoot urges for the change (besides manuscripts) that it is unlikely that St Paul should so emphasize (“ for this very purpose ”) Tychicus’ mission of information, and then suddenly give as its first object a work of enquiry. Further, that transcribers were more likely to assimilate the person and number of the verb to the “ he might comfort ” just below, than elaborately to assimilate a “ he might know ” here to the “ ye might know ” in Ephesians.
comfort ] See on Col 2:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. That he might know your estate] Instead of , that HE may know YOUR affairs, ABD*FG, many others, with the AEthiopic, Itala, Theodoret, and Damascenus, read , that YE may know OUR affairs; which is probably the true reading. Tychicus was sent to them, not to know their affairs, but with Onesimus, to carry this epistle and make the apostle’s state known to them, and comfort their hearts by the good news which he brought. The next verse confirms this meaning.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose; who was Pauls messenger to them, as to let them know how it was with Paul, so to this end:
1. That he might know your estate; that he might clearly understand, how their matters stood, {as Eph 6:22} especially with respect to spirituals, Col 2:1,5.
2. And comfort your hearts; and cheer up their spirits, {as Eph 6:22} that under the temptations of Satan, and tyranny of persecutors abroad or at home, they might not be discouraged, 2Co 4:17.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. for the same purposeGreek,“for this very purpose.”
that he might know yourestateTranslate, “that he may know your state”:answering to Col 4:7. So onevery old manuscript and Vulgate read. But the oldestmanuscripts and the old Latin versions, “that YEmay know OUR state.”However, the latter reading seems likely to have crept in from Eph6:22. Paul was the more anxious to know the state of theColossians, on account of the seductions to which they were exposedfrom false teachers; owing to which he had “great conflict for”them (Col 2:1).
comfort yourheartsdistressed as ye are by my imprisonment, as well as byyour own trials.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose,…. That is, to relate to them his affairs both temporal and spiritual; and also,
that he might know your estate. The Arabic version renders it, “that I may know your estate” by him when he returned again; as whether they continued steadfast in the Gospel, and observed the order, ordinances, and discipline of it; how it prospered, and was succeeded among them, to their comfort and edification, and to the conversion of others; and what reception the false teachers had among them; and what love, concord, and harmony were among themselves; or what were their afflictions and distresses from their enemies. The Ethiopic version renders it, “that ye may know the history of me”; which agrees with a manuscript mentioned by Grotius, which reads, “that ye may know the things concerning us”, as does the Alexandrian copy; and with Eph 6:22 where it is added, as here, and “comfort your hearts”; who might be greatly cast down upon hearing of the sufferings of the apostle, and also with those they themselves endured both from within and from without, from sin, Satan, and the world; see on Gill “Eph 6:22”.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
I have sent (). Epistolary aorist active indicative of as in Eph 6:22.
That ye may know ( ). Second aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive of , “that ye may come to know.” This the correct text, not (third singular).
Our estate ( ). “The things concerning us.”
May comfort (). First aorist active subjunctive. Proper rendering here and not “may exhort.”
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
I have sent. Epistolary aorist. Tychicus carried the letter.
He might know your estate [ ] . The correct reading is gnwte ta peri hJmwn ye might know the things about us, or our estate. Compare Eph 6:21.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Whom I have sent unto you” (hon epempsa pros humas) Whom I sent (on his way) to you all;” or “I am sending,” with his permission or willingness. The term sending (epempsa) was used as “sending by influence” not by (Gk. stello) commission authority, Joh 20:27.
2) “For the same purpose” (eis auto touto) “For this very thing,” the thing introduced in Col 4:7, to disclose to them his state or condition and encourage the brethren of Colosse, Eph 6:22.
3) “That he might know your estate” (hina gnote ta peri hemon) “in order that you all the things concerning us might now;” Paul wished to relieve the anxiety of the Colossians regarding his welfare,
4) “And comfort your hearts” (kai parakalese tas kardias humon) “and in order that he might comfort your heart;” or bring relief from anxiety of emotions to them, Col 2:2; Eph 6:22. This function was not given to Onesimus who was not a (sundoulos) fellowservant or colleague-slave in the Lord. The name of Tychicus occurs in inscriptions and on old coins in Asia Minor.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
8. The same purpose Better, this very purpose, applying to what follows, especially if we retain the next clause. Whether we should read as in the text, or, that ye might know our affairs, as in Eph 6:22, is as yet doubtful. Tregelles adopts the latter, which certainly best agrees with the following verse.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
Ver. 8. And comfort your hearts ] See Trapp on “ Eph 6:22 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Col 4:8 . : “I am sending” (epistolary aorist). . This is not only the better attested reading but yields the better sense, because both before (Col 4:7 ) and after (Col 4:9 ) Paul says that Tychicus will acquaint them with matters at Rome. He wishes to relieve the anxiety of the Colossians as to his welfare. : see on Col 2:2 . This function is not ascribed to Onesimus, who was not a .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
have, Omit.
sent. Greek pempo. App-174.
unto. Greek. pros. App-104.
for. Greek. eis. App-104.
that . . . your. The texts read “that ye may know our”.
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
know. Greek. ginaska. App-132.
your estate. Lit, the things concerning (Greek. peri. App-104) you. Compare Col 4:7.
comfort. Greek parakaleo. App-134.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Col 4:8. ) is found in Al. Colb. 7, etc. It has been transferred to this place from Eph 6:22. See App. Crit. Ed. 2.[30] on this passage. The two epistles [Ephesians and Colossians] truly have many points of resemblance to one another, but yet so as that the things that need to be changed are changed in each respectively (mutatis mutandis). And generally in parallelisms of this sort, which the officiousness of transcribers has mixed together [blending the parallel readings of two epistles into one], one reading in the one place, and another in the other, is the genuine reading. Tychicus, and through Tychicus (as it appears) Paul, was to learn the state of the Colossians (whence, instead of [third person, viz. Tychicus], [first person, viz. Paul] may be also read), just as he learned the state of the Thessalonians through Timothy; that of the Corinthians through Titus; that of the Philippians through Epaphroditus; and more especially did Paul wish to learn that of the Colossians, because he had a great conflict on their account [ch. Col 2:1]. Moreover the knowledge of the Colossians concerning Paul is sufficiently indicated (marked), not only by the preceding words, as in the Epistle to the Ephesians, but also by those following, which are peculiar to this Epistle to the Colossians: .[31]
[30] is the reading of ABD corrected, (), Gfg, and so Lachm. But – in C Vulg. and Rec. Text, and so Tisch.-ED.
[31] Therefore Beng. rejects the reading .-ED.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Col 4:8
Col 4:8
whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state,-Paul sent them, not only to tell them of his condition and of the success of the gospel in Rome, but to learn all about their fidelity, their knowledge of the truth, and their condition.
and that he may comfort your hearts;-He would comfort their hearts by teaching them the word of God, as well as favorably reporting Pauls condition. [The Colossians did not need consolation, but courage to stand against the wiles of the false teachers and be faithful to Christ and the gospel message.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
I have: 1Co 4:17, 2Co 12:18, Eph 6:22, Phi 2:28, 1Th 3:5
and comfort: Col 2:2, Isa 40:1, Isa 61:2, Isa 61:3, 2Co 1:4, 2Co 2:7, 1Th 2:11, 1Th 3:2, 1Th 4:18, 1Th 5:11, 1Th 5:14, 2Th 2:17
Reciprocal: 1Co 14:3 – comfort 1Co 16:18 – they Phi 2:19 – to send
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
(Col 4:8.) There are in this verse two marked differences of reading. The Textus Receptus, followed by Tischendorf, reads -That he might know your affairs; but the other reading is -That ye might know our affairs. The last appears to be the most natural. The apostle had just said, All about me shall Tychicus tell you, whom I have sent for this purpose, that ye might know how it fares with us, and then he adds of him and Onesimus, they will inform you of all things here. Whereas, if the reading of the Received Text be adopted, a new idea is introduced-that he might know your affairs-and one out of harmony with the twice expressed design of the mission. The common reading has the support of C, D3, E, J, K, the Syriac and Vulgate Versions, and many of the Fathers. The other reading has, however, A, B, D1, F, G, the text of Theodoret and Jerome. The phrase, , refers to what has been said, viz. all my state shall Tychicus declare unto you; and he adds, I have sent him for this very purpose. Is it conceivable that now the apostle should introduce another and very different purpose after this strong assertion? It is objected to this reading that it is copied from Eph 6:22. But surely, in two epistles written at the same time, and carried by the same bearer, might not the same commission be given to him for both churches, and in the same words? If the other clauses of the commission are the same, why should this clause vary? The declared result is the same in both places, and for both churches-that he might comfort your hearts-and there is no reason to suppose any difference in the process, for their hearts were to be comforted by a direct and full knowledge of the apostle’s condition. The various lect ions may have arisen from omitting the syllable before , from their resemblance. One ancient Father has . Bengel takes for the first person. The new reading is adopted by Scholz and Lachmann as editors, recommended by Griesbach, vindicated by Rinck, and followed by Meyer, Baumgarten-Crusius, Olshausen, and Huther. The reading then is-
-Whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye might know our affairs. In the verb is a common idiom. Tychicus could not be sent off till the letter was finished, and yet he says, forestalling the act, I have sent him. The Colossians were in distress at the apostle’s condition, and in sorrow for his imprisonment; but when Tychicus should tell them how he was circumstanced, and what his views and feelings were, how his mind was unruffled and his courage unsubdued, he would comfort their hearts- .
Tychicus was not to be despatched on this errand by himself. He had a companion whose history and change had been striking and peculiar in their nature.
Fuente: Commentary on the Greek Text of Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and Phillipians
Col 4:8. Same purpose refers to the subject of welfare mentioned in the preceding verse. Tychicus was to inform the Colossians of the state of Paul, and he wished also to learn that of them. Comfort your hearts. Thayer defines the Greek for the first word, “to encourage, strengthen.” In spite of the restricted situation surrounding the apostle, there was much in which to rejoice,- because of the great amount of good that he was doing for the Gospel’s sake.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Col 4:8. Whom I sent, etc. See Eph 6:22, which is verbally identical, if we accept here the reading of the earliest authorities: that ye may know the things respecting us. The received reading (in the Greek) differs from this in but three letters; moreover the variations are such as would readily arise. The best Greek manuscripts nearly all read as in Ephesians. The Vulgate is on the side of the received text. Since the discovery of Aleph, which in its corrections presents the entire history of the change, critical editors have usually accepted ye and our. The weight of authority overbears the probability of an alteration to conform with Eph 6:22.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
“Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;”
Paul is sending him to give report of Paul to the church as well as gather a report of the church for him. Not only is he to observe the church, but he is to give them comfort. This may be indication of the stresses that the believers were facing – Paul thought that they needed comfort.