“Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus” (2Tim 4:12).
Coming through in the Clutch
NBA great Karl Malone earned one of the greatest nicknames of all time. “The Mail Man.” What does playing basketball have to do with being a letter carrier? The hall of famer always delivered. Fans and teammates could count on Karl to come through in the clutch.
Long before Dr. Naismith cut the bottom out of the peach basket, there was another Mail Man. His name was Tychicus. He was one of the true go-to guys in the early church. The early followers of Jesus could count on him to come through in the clutch. The Big T always delivered.
Paul’s Final Words
Here in the final words of Paul, we see Tychicus’ reliability once again. The year is sometime around 66-67 AD. The apostle is walking the Green Mile as a condemned man in a Roman prison (2Tim 1:16; 2:9; 4:6-7). He writes one last letter to a young pastor named Timothy (2Tim 1:2).
The epistle has a pair of overriding purposes. First, Paul looks to handoff the ministry of the Gospel to his spiritual son (2Tim 2:1-4:5). Second, he wants to see Tim’s face one last time before his execution (2Tim 4:9, 21).
The Apostle Gets Personal
As he lands the plane on this last letter, the apostle gets personal. He updates Tim on the rest of the team. Demas has deserted him (2Tim 4:10). He’s sent Crescens to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia on assignment (2Tim 4:10).
At this point, only his old buddy Luke is by his side (2Tim 4:11). He tells Tim to grab their old friend Mark and head to Rome so they can get the band back together one final time (2Tim 4:11).
An Underrated Dude
Which brings us to the Mail Man. “Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus” (v12). When we combine this verse with everything else the writers of the New Testament have to say about the Big T, we get a picture of a clutch performer.
I gotta tell you, I think Tychicus might one of the most underrated dudes in the entire Bible. No, he doesn’t get the ink of other folks like Titus, Barnabas, or Silas. People don’t name their sons Tychicus. He may not make headlines but he’s an awesome example of someone God uses as a faithful and courageous servant.
An Apostolic Recommendation
This guy is a biblical beast (in a good way!). Check it out. Dr. Luke lets us know that Mr. T is from Asia (modern day Turkey) and was buddies with another believer named Trophimus (Acts 20:4). That’s because Paul handpicked him to be part of the team responsible for delivering the relief money from various churches back to Jesus’ followers under persecution in Jerusalem.
Paul gives Tychicus his props in a couple of letters to local churches. He recommends him as “the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord” (Eph 6:21) to the folks in Ephesus.
Coming through in the Clutch
NBA great Karl Malone earned one of the greatest nicknames of all time. “The Mail Man.” What does playing basketball have to do with being a letter carrier? The hall of famer always delivered. Fans and teammates could count on Karl to come through in the clutch.
Long before Dr. Naismith cut the bottom out of the peach basket, there was another Mail Man. His name was Tychicus. He was one of the true go-to guys in the early church. The early followers of Jesus could count on him to come through in the clutch. The Big T always delivered.
Paul’s Final Words
Here in the final words of Paul, we see Tychicus’ reliability once again. The year is sometime around 66-67 AD. The apostle is walking the Green Mile as a condemned man in a Roman prison (2Tim 1:16; 2:9; 4:6-7). He writes one last letter to a young pastor named Timothy (2Tim 1:2).
The epistle has a pair of overriding purposes. First, Paul looks to handoff the ministry of the Gospel to his spiritual son (2Tim 2:1-4:5). Second, he wants to see Tim’s face one last time before his execution (2Tim 4:9, 21).
The Apostle Gets Personal
As he lands the plane on this last letter, the apostle gets personal. He updates Tim on the rest of the team. Demas has deserted him (2Tim 4:10). He’s sent Crescens to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia on assignment (2Tim 4:10).
At this point, only his old buddy Luke is by his side (2Tim 4:11). He tells Tim to grab their old friend Mark and head to Rome so they can get the band back together one final time (2Tim 4:11).
An Underrated Dude
Which brings us to the Mail Man. “Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus” (v12). When we combine this verse with everything else the writers of the New Testament have to say about the Big T, we get a picture of a clutch performer.
I gotta tell you, I think Tychicus might one of the most underrated dudes in the entire Bible. No, he doesn’t get the ink of other folks like Titus, Barnabas, or Silas. People don’t name their sons Tychicus. He may not make headlines but he’s an awesome example of someone God uses as a faithful and courageous servant.
An Apostolic Recommendation
This guy is a biblical beast (in a good way!). Check it out. Dr. Luke lets us know that Mr. T is from Asia (modern day Turkey) and was buddies with another believer named Trophimus (Acts 20:4). That’s because Paul handpicked him to be part of the team responsible for delivering the relief money from various churches back to Jesus’ followers under persecution in Jerusalem.
Paul gives Tychicus his props in a couple of letters to local churches. He recommends him as “the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord” (Eph 6:21) to the folks in Ephesus.
Meanwhile the apostle goes one step further in a note to the Colossians and adds “fellow servant” (Col 4:7) to his endorsement. I don’t know about you, but a reference from the Apostle Paul would look pretty sweet on any resume.
The Big T clearly proved himself to be somebody Paul could count on to deliver. As matter of fact, he was the courier for at least three of Paul’s letters to Ephesus, Colossae, and his buddy Philemon. There’s also a pretty good chance the apostle leaned on him to carry a note to Titus as well as this last letter to Timothy.
Coming out of the Bullpen
Tychicus did a lot more than transport documents. He may well have come out of the bullpen to relieve Titus in his work on the island of Crete. “When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there” (Titus 3:12).
Which brings us to what Paul writes here in chapter four of 2nd Timothy. “Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus” (v12). In the previous verse, the apostle tells Tim to get Mark and hit the road for Rome. Our last location for Pastor Tim was leading the big Ephesian church Paul planted a few years back (1Tim 1:3).
Sent with Authority
Paul makes it clear that he’s dispatched Tychicus as his special rep. He uses a word the ESV translates as “sent” (Gr. αποστελλω/apostello), which means to be sent with authority or special commission. It comes from the same root word as “apostle,” an official representative in the Greco-Roman world.
It’s the very same word we read when Jesus prays to His Heavenly Dad for His followers. “As You sent (Gr. αποστελλω/apostello) Me into the world, so I have sent (Gr. αποστελλω/apostello) them into the world” (John 17:18).
The Big T clearly proved himself to be somebody Paul could count on to deliver. As matter of fact, he was the courier for at least three of Paul’s letters to Ephesus, Colossae, and his buddy Philemon. There’s also a pretty good chance the apostle leaned on him to carry a note to Titus as well as this last letter to Timothy.
Coming out of the Bullpen
Tychicus did a lot more than transport documents. He may well have come out of the bullpen to relieve Titus in his work on the island of Crete. “When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there” (Titus 3:12).
Which brings us to what Paul writes here in chapter four of 2nd Timothy. “Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus” (v12). In the previous verse, the apostle tells Tim to get Mark and hit the road for Rome. Our last location for Pastor Tim was leading the big Ephesian church Paul planted a few years back (1Tim 1:3).
Sent with Authority
Paul makes it clear that he’s dispatched Tychicus as his special rep. He uses a word the ESV translates as “sent” (Gr. αποστελλω/apostello), which means to be sent with authority or special commission. It comes from the same root word as “apostle,” an official representative in the Greco-Roman world.
It’s the very same word we read when Jesus prays to His Heavenly Dad for His followers. “As You sent (Gr. αποστελλω/apostello) Me into the world, so I have sent (Gr. αποστελλω/apostello) them into the world” (John 17:18).
The Father sent the Son on a rescue mission. The Son sends us to tell others the Gospel. Paul sends Tychicus to relieve Tim so he can see his mentor one last time.
Time after time, Tychicus faithfully delivers. As we’ve already seen, he hand-carried three of Paul’s prison epistles: Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, probably on the very same delivery.
Time after time, Tychicus faithfully delivers. As we’ve already seen, he hand-carried three of Paul’s prison epistles: Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, probably on the very same delivery.
If that doesn’t impress you, imagine being the person the apostle trusts with what he knows will be the last letter of his life. The Big T is one amazing messenger. The Mail Man always delivers.
On Mission with the Message
Like Tychicus, we’re all on a mission. In many ways, it’s the very same assignment. While we don’t have the original handwritten letters of Paul, we have been entrusted to carry the life-changing message of Jesus to the world. The message of forgiveness and grace found only in Christ.
God’s message of grace MUST get through. People’s lives hang in the balance. But I’ve got good news for you about the Good News. We’re not traveling alone. Jesus Himself is at our side. And He’ll make sure you and I succeed if we accept the assignment.
The Mail Man delivered. Will we?
On Mission with the Message
Like Tychicus, we’re all on a mission. In many ways, it’s the very same assignment. While we don’t have the original handwritten letters of Paul, we have been entrusted to carry the life-changing message of Jesus to the world. The message of forgiveness and grace found only in Christ.
God’s message of grace MUST get through. People’s lives hang in the balance. But I’ve got good news for you about the Good News. We’re not traveling alone. Jesus Himself is at our side. And He’ll make sure you and I succeed if we accept the assignment.
The Mail Man delivered. Will we?
©2017
Jay Jennings
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