Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Timothy 4:12
And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
12. Tychicus ] The accent of the word shews it to be formed from the noun for ‘chance’; as with us a common surname is Chance.
Tychicus, a native of proconsular Asia (Act 20:4), went with St Paul on the third missionary journey to Jerusalem, perhaps as a delegate from his own Church; was with him towards the close of the first imprisonment at Rome (Col 4:7); after the release was again with him on the way to Nicopolis (Tit 3:12); and now just before his death is sent to Ephesus. From St Paul’s reference to him in Col 4:7 as his ‘beloved brother and faithful minister’ we see the naturalness of his going on with the Apostle and St Luke to Rome.
have I sent ] Rightly, if we take the tense (as is most probable) to be the epistolary aorist. Instances of this in St Paul are 2Co 8:18; 2Co 8:22; 2Co 9:3, Gal 6:11, Eph 6:22, Col 4:8, Php 2:25; Php 2:28, Phm 1:11. St Paul then is sending Tychicus with this letter to take Timothy’s place at Ephesus; he had therefore finally decided to send Artemas, not Tychicus, to Crete when he wanted to have Titus with him, Tit 3:12. See Introduction, pp. 43, 44.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And Tychicus – See Act 20:4. In Eph 6:21, Paul calls him a beloved brother, and faithful minister in the Lord. But it may be asked why he did not retain him with him, or why should he have sent him away, and then call Timothy to him? The probability is, that he had sent him before he had seen reason to apprehend that he would be put to death; and now, feeling the need of a friend to be with him, he sent to Timothy, rather than to him, because Tychicus had been employed to perform some service which he could not well leave, and because Paul wished to give some some special instructions to Timothy before he died.
Have I sent to Ephesus – Why, is not certainly known; compare Intro. Section 2.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.] For this person, see Ac 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7. It is rather strange that the apostle should say, I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus, if Timothy was at Ephesus at this time; but it is probable that Tychicus had been sent to Ephesus some time before this, and therefore the apostle might say, though writing now to Ephesus, Tychicus have I sent, &c.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I have given order to Tychius to come to Ephesus in thy absence.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. AndGreek, “But.”Thou art to come to me, but Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus tosupply thy place (if thou so willest it) in presiding over the Churchthere in thy absence (compare Tit3:12). It is possible Tychicus was the bearer of this Epistle,though the omission of “to thee” is rather against thisview.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. To supply the place of Timothy, while he came to Rome, and continued there: so careful was the apostle of the church there, that they might not be without the ministry of the word during his absence; see Eph 6:20.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Tychicus I sent to Ephesus ( ). Perhaps Paul had sent him on before he came to Rome. He may have been still on the way to Ephesus.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Tychicus. A comparatively uncommon name in N. T., but found in inscriptions of Asia Minor and on Asiatic coins. He is mentioned Act 20:4, 5; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7. In Act 20:4 he is described as a native of proconsular Asia.
2Ti 4:18The cloak [] . 145 Hesychius, however, explains as a glwssokomon, originally a case for keeping the mouthpieces of wind – instruments; thence, generally, Glwssokomon is the word for the disciples ‘ treasury – chest (bag, Jas 12:6). Also a box for transporting or preserving parchments. Specimens have been found at Herculaneum. In LXX, 2Sa 6:11, the ark of the Lord (but the reading varies) : in 2Ch 24:8, the chest placed by order of Joash at the gate of the temple, to receive contributions for its repair. Joseph. Ant 6:1, 2, of the coffer into which the jewels of gold were put for a trespass – offering when the ark was sent back (1Sa 6:8). Phrynicus 146 defines it as “a receptacle for books, clothes, silver, or anything else.” Failonhv or fainolhv a wrapper of parchments, was translated figuratively in Latin by toga or paenula “a cloak,” sometimes of leather; also the wrapping which a shopkeeper put round fish or olives; also the parchment cover for papyrus rolls. Accordingly it is claimed that Timothy is here bidden to bring, not a cloak, but a roll – case. So the Syriac Version. There seems to be no sufficient reason for abandoning the translation of A. V.
Carpus. Not mentioned elsewhere.
The books [] . Biblov or, biblion was the term most widely used by the Greeks for book or volume. The usual derivation is from, bublov the Egyptian papyrus. Comp. Lat. liber “the inner bark of a tree,” also “book.” 147 Pliny (Nat. Hist. 13 11) says that the pith of the papyrus plant was cut in slices and laid in rows, over which other rows were laid crosswise, and the whole was massed by pressure. The name for the blank papyrus sheets was carthv [] paper. See on 2 John 12. Timothy is here requested to bring some papyrus documents which are distinguished from the vellum manuscripts.
Parchments [] . N. T. o. Manuscripts written on parchment or vellum. Strictly speaking, veilum was made from the skins of young calves and the common parchment from those of sheep, goats, or antelopes. It was a more durable material than papyrus and more expensive. The Latin name was membrana, and also pergamena or pergamina, from Pergamum in Mysia where it was extensively manufactured, and from which it was introduced into Greece. As to the character and contents of these documents which Timothy is requested to bring, we are of course entirely ignorant. 148
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And Tychicus” (tuchikon de) “And Tychicus indicates the absence of a former missionary helper, but explains his absence as by agreement of the two.
2) “Have I sent to Ephesus” (apesteila eis epheson) “I sent away to Ephesus,” on a special mission. Perhaps Tychicus had been sent to Ephesus to replace Timothy whom Paul desired to come to his side, aid him immediately, Act 20:4; Eph 6:21-22; Col 4:7-8; Tit 3:12. From these passages it may be concluded that Tychicus had been a continuing missionary helper of Paul, in establishing missions and churches in the faith, and in carrying letters from Paul to the churches, and encouraging the brethren.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(12) And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.Instead of and, the Greek particle here should be rendered but Tychicus. This but appears to refer to a suppressed thought, suggested by the concluding portion of the last (11th) verse: bring Mark. I need one who is profitable (or serviceable) for the ministry. I had one in Tychicus, but he is gone (Ellicott). Neither the period of Tychicus journey nor its object is alluded to here. It probably took place some time, however, before the sending of this Epistle to Timothy. Tychicus was evidently one of the trusted companions of St. Paul. He had been with him, we know, on his third missionary journey, and had, during St. Pauls first Roman imprisonment, some six or seven years before, been charged with a mission by his master to Ephesus. In Eph. 6:21 he is called a beloved brother and a faithful minister in the Lord. (See, too, Col. 4:7, where he is spoken of in similar terms.) On the city of Ephesus, see Note on 1Ti. 1:3. It has been, with considerable probability, suggested that Tychicus had been the bearer of the first Epistle to Timothy. Between the writing of these two letters, we know, no great interval could have elapsed.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Tychicus sent This verse is the strong proof adduced to show that Timothy was not at Ephesus when this epistle was written to him. To obviate the objection Alford would emphasize sent, and make Paul assure Timothy that Tychicus did not leave him voluntarily, but by command. And we may also suggest the query, How was it certain that in those days of uncertain travel he should arrive where he was sent? Or how should Paul be so sure that he had arrived as to make him omit the mention of the sending? Perhaps he might have written less concisely: “I sent Tychicus to fill your place at Ephesus, and hope you have seen him.” There are, indeed, many suppositions that would explain the case, but, from absence of documents, no one that we know to be the true one.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.’
Tychicus was another faithful lieutenant. He had been Paul’s messenger entrusted with the delivery of the letters to the Colossians (Col 4:7), and the Ephesians (Eph 6:21). Possibly he also brought Paul’s letter to Timothy and was to take his place. That would explain why mention of him is immediately followed by the request for the cloak, books and parchments, all being a part of the arrangements for Timothy.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Ti 4:12 . ] Tychicus was in Greece with Paul on the third missionary journey, and preceded him to Troas, Act 20:4-5 . According to Col 4:7 and Eph 6:21 , Paul sent him from Rome to Asia Minor. Otto thinks that this was the occasion mentioned here, and tries to prove it particularly by an interpretation of the passages quoted from the Epistles to the Colossians and the Ephesians. There are, however, well-founded objections to his theory. The facts are such, the two occasions on which he was sent can obviously not be identical.
] Paul here mentions Ephesus as the place to which he had sent Tychicus; but we cannot infer from this, as Theodoret and de Wette infer, that Timothy had not at that time lived in Ephesus.
The reason why he was sent is not given. Possibly it was to convey this epistle (Wieseler); but not probably, for in such a case Paul would have certainly written (Tit 3:12 ; Wiesinger).
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
Ver. 12. Tychicus have I sent ] For what end, see Eph 6:22 . See Trapp on “ Eph 6:22 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ti 4:12 . , . . .: The does not involve a comparison of Tychicus with Mark, as both (so Ell.); but rather distinguishes the cause of Tychicus’ absence from that of the others. Demas had forsaken the apostle; and Crescens and Titus had gone , perhaps on their own initiative; Tychicus had been sent away by St. Paul himself. For Tychicus, see Act 20:4 , Eph 6:21-22 , Col 4:7-8 , Tit 3:12 ; and the art. in Hastings’ D. B .
: If the emphasis in the clause lies on , as has been just suggested, the difficulty of harmonising with the common belief that Timothy was himself in chief authority in the Church at Ephesus is somewhat mitigated. St. Paul had mentioned the places to which Demas, etc., had gone; and even on the supposition that St. Paul knew that Tychicus was with Timothy, he could not say, “I sent away Tychicus” without completing the sentence by adding the destination. This explanation must be adopted, if we suppose with Ell. that Tychicus was the bearer of First Timothy . If he were the bearer of Second Timothy , can be plausibly explained as the epistolary aorist. On the other hand, there is no reason why we should assume that Timothy was at Ephesus at this time. Other local references, e.g. , 2Ti 1:15 ; 2Ti 1:18 , and 2Ti 4:13 are quite consistent with a belief that he was not actually in that city. Perhaps “Do the work of an evangelist” (2Ti 4:5 ) is an indication that he was itinerating.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Tychicus. See Act 20:4. Eph 8:21. Col 4:7. Tit 3:12.
have. Omit.
sent. App-174.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ti 4:12. , Tychicus) whom Timothy might set over the Church [in his own absence when going to Paul]; but Paul leaves this to himself [without even suggesting that he should do so]: comp. Tit 3:12.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Ti 4:12
But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.-Tychicus was with Paul in his journey through Macedonia. (Act 20:4.) It is not known how he came to Rome when Paul was a prisoner. Paul sent him to report his condition to the churches and to comfort them. (Eph 6:21.) He carried the letters to the Ephesians (Eph 6:21) and to the Colossians (Col 4:7). [He is mentioned also in Acts (20:4) and Titus (3:12) so that he too was one of the few found faithful to the end.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Tychicus: Act 20:4, Eph 6:21, Col 4:7, Tit 3:12
to: Act 20:16, Act 20:17, Act 20:25, 1Ti 1:3
Reciprocal: Act 18:19 – Ephesus 2Ti 1:18 – Ephesus
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ti 4:12. This is referred to and commented upon at verse 10.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Ti 4:12. Tychicus have I sent. Better, I sent. In Eph 6:21, we find Tychicus mentioned as the bearer of the Epistle to that Church. What St. Paul says may refer to that journey, but it is also probable that Tychicus had returned to him in Rome, and then been sent once more to Ephesus. The life of these evangelist messengers was one apparently of incessant movement.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 12
Tychicus. He is mentioned, Acts 20:4, as belonging in Asia. He was sent once to Asia from Rome as the bearer of Epistles from Paul. (Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7.)
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
“And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. 13 The cloke that I left at Troaswith Carpus, when thou comest, bring [with thee], and the books, [but] especially the parchments.”
We gather from this that Paul was cold or possibly just had a real desire for his cloak – ever have a coat you just loved to wear? He also requested books and parchments – we don’t know what these were, but they were important to the apostle at this point in life.
Remember, he has just declared that he is about to die or be killed, yet he wants his books he is still plugging away at his ministry for the benefit of others. He certainly was in the job for the long haul.
Gill and Barnes mention that some older commentators thought that the cloak may have been an outer covering for books or possibly something to put on a table to place books on. One mentions that some thought that it might even have been a lap desk of some sort.
Since the term is only used here in the Bible, we cant know for sure what the meaning was. Since it is in the same thought with books and parchments it would be logical that it related to the books in some manner but the lexicons only list it as meaning an outer garment which indicates clothing. I would think a personal garment is in mind.
Since he was looking toward his death, I wonder if this relates to his getting his house in order. With Luke present I wonder if the books and parchments might have been for him for future reference as he continued his ministry.
We dont know what the books and parchments were but there are some good guesses. The books may have related to secular topics or possibly these were writings relating to the Old Testament or maybe even Old Testament Scripture passages. The parchments could have been some of the New Testament books, or possibly some of the letters from the churches to Paul.
At any rate, it seems Paul wanted to put them to use or get them in order for his death.
Tychicus must have been Timothys replacement as he was on his way to Ephesus. Timothy was to leave as soon as possible for Rome and pick up the items on the way there.
I would guess this may be the basis some use in large denominations where higher ups make the decisions as to where the lower placed people serve.