Colossians 4:7-9 meaning

This letter, like all of the other letters Paul writes in the New Testament, is constructed at some distance from the recipients. Part of the magic and beauty of these letters is that they help to transcend time and distance, uniting the body of Christ over miles and millennia. Having encouraged the believers in Colossae, given them instructions on how to steward life's journey, and warning them of the perils of evil, Paul moves to give a quick update of all my affairs (vs 7).

Paul does not so much tell the Colossians what is going on with him; he tells them how he is going to tell them what is going on with him: Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information (vs 7).

Tychicus is listed as one of Paul's traveling companions in Acts 20, as well as in Ephesians, 2 Timothy, and Titus. Not much is known about the man Tychicus. In all of the references to him, he is being sent by Paul as a sort of ambassador, to a place where Paul is not present. Much of Paul's mission in writing these New Testament letters is to keep the growing Kingdom of God united, to remind all of the collective vision of the gospel and the interrelated work of all involved. Tychicus seems to be a messenger to that end, going to and fro to speak on Paul's behalf, encouraging and updating people in person.

Paul uses the plural pronoun, our, to refer to Tychicus. He is not Paul's man. He is a part of the body of Christ. He is part of the ministry team Jesus appointed. Paul calls him a beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bond-servant (vs 7). The term beloved brother celebrates his connection to the whole; he is a part of the family of God. The second description—faithful servant—celebrates Tychicus' commitment and sacrifice to their mutual mission to take the gospel to the world. He serves.

No doubt the challenges and dangers of traveling in the ancient world is no small thing. Tychicus is doing his job for the ministry team as a servant, setting aside his comfort for the sake of the gospel (not to mention the perils he must encounter when he is with Paul). He is faithful in this commitment to help others, to do his part.

The third description is a celebration of the shared mission between Tychicus, Paul, and the Colossians. A bond servant is literally someone who serves the same master; someone in the trenches with you because of a shared mission. Paul refers to himself as a bondservant as well (Romans 1:1). In this manner then, Paul and Tychicus are fellow bondservants, serving the same master, who is Jesus.

Paul is sending Tychicus to inform the Colossian believers of his ministry, information about his circumstances. The updates are likely too lengthy, or perhaps too dangerous or too personal to write out in the letter. Tychicus will be their messenger. Paul says, For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts (vs 8).

So, Tychicus is being sent with a double-charge, a two-pronged agenda. The first is to relay the facts and circumstances about what is happening with Paul and his other companions. The second is to encourage your hearts. The Greek word translated encourage here is "parakaleo," which literally means "to beseech" or "to call to one's side." Part of the encouragement is an appeal. Tychicus is, of course, going to make Paul's case more fully in person.

Tychicus won't be traveling alone. With him will be Onesimus, who Paul describes as one of your number. There is an entire New Testament epistle about Onesimus; it is the Book of Philemon. Onesimus was Philemon's slave. Paul addresses the slave owner to appeal on behalf of Onesimus, who had robbed his master and fled to Rome. In the Book of Philemon, we learn that Onesimus is from Colossae; quite literally one of them.

Paul uses similar language to that describing Tychicus in reference to Onesimus—our faithful and beloved brother (vs 9). He is also a part of the Kingdom of God, committed to the vision of spreading the gospel to the world, and a key contributor to the body of Christ.

Paul reiterates that they will inform you about the whole situation here (vs 9). Paul probably wrote the Book of Colossians while he was imprisoned in Rome (about the same time he likely wrote Philippians, Ephesians, and Philemon). One of the most impactful members of the movement imprisoned in the world's capital is definitely a situation the Colossians would be eager to hear an update about. It could well be that when Paul wrote this letter, he was aware it would be read by his guards, the Roman authorities. So he might have had them as an intended audience, as well as intentionally withholding particular information that would otherwise have prevented the letter's delivery.