Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
Summary: Paul mentions one of the men who will carry this letter to Colossae. His name is Tychicus.
I looked up how to pronounce Tychicus’s name, and I wish I hadn’t. I had imagined that it was a name that sounded cool, and now I found out that it is completely the opposite.
According to my source,* the real pronunciation sounds like someone saying “too” and then making a sound like coughing up a hairball, then “key,” and finally, “toss” only with a “k” instead of a “t.” (If you are serious about this kind of thing, the phonetic pronunciation is “too-khee-kos’.”)
I’m sure in Tychicus’s day, it sounded perfectly normal.
In Paul’s world, God provided him with a few very special companions, and Tychicus was one of those people. He is mentioned only five times in the Bible, each associated with Paul.
Part of the reason Paul mentions Tychicus is by way of introduction. It seems very likely that Tychicus, together with Onesimus (see Col 4:9), would be carrying Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
“All the news about me” would include answers to all the questions people might have about Paul and how he is doing. Likely, Paul was still in Rome when he wrote to the Colossians. He just mentioned that he is still “in chains” (Col 4:3). Luke records that Paul was allowed to stay in a rented house and have visitors while he was detained (Acts 28:30).
Tychicus would have known all these details if he had been staying with Paul.
Paul adds one more note about Tychicus. He is a “faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.”
Tychicus was more than just a messenger. He was considered by Paul to be a fellow minister. All believers are supposed to be a “servant in the Lord,” but not all believers are considered a ministers.
The word Paul used for “minister” is “diakonos,” a word that can mean “servant” or “minister.” When it is used as “minister,” it takes on the form of a title like “minister of defense.” A minister, in this sense, is someone who represents a higher authority, in this case, Jesus.
Application: Serve the Lord as faithful as Tychicus did.
Food for Thought: If you lived in Colossae, what would you want to ask Tychicus about Paul?
*”G5190 – tychikos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (niv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 14 Apr, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5190/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
I would ask if he could arrange for me to meet with Paul.
HAHAHA!
Okay. Fair enough. Thanks, Ron! 🙂
Good response brother
If what I am reading is correct, Tychicus first met Paul around 57 AD, and Colossians would have been ready for delivery around 60-62 AD. Paul himself said Tychicus “is a beloved brother.” So, I believe Tychicus knew Paul on a personal level.
So, I might be inclined to ask “what changes have you seen in Paul over the time you have known him?” I think Tychicus would be able to offer insight into Paul as a person, and how He grew in Christ.
Thanks Chris!
That would be an interesting question! 🙂
To be honest, I think I would want to know more about Tychicus himself. We don’t know much about him, but what we do know is his impeccable character and service to the Lord. I would love the opportunity to meet him. But I might be just as interested in what I can learn about him as opposed to what he can tell me about Paul.
Thank you, Rich!
Yes, I agree. Knowing more about the unsung heroes of the early church would be fascinating.