Ephesians 6:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.

NIV: Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.

NASB: Now, so that you also may know about my circumstances as to what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you.

CSB: Tychicus, our dearly loved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed.

NLT: To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work.

KJV: But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

NKJV: But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;

This verse begins the concluding section of the letter, extending through 6:24. Paul expresses a desire to offer additional information about his situation in Rome. In addition to this letter, he seems to be sending a particular person, Tychicus, to the Ephesian church. Tychicus more than likely delivered additional information, along with Paul's written greetings.

Tychicus had served with Paul, as mentioned in Acts 20:4. In addition to delivering the letter to the Ephesians, he also delivered a letter to the Colossian believers, during the same trip. There, he was called "a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord" while traveling with Onesimus (Colossians 4:7). This strongly suggests that the letter of Philemon was delivered during this same trip, around the year AD 62. Near the end of Paul's life, a few years later, he will mention sending Tychicus to Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:12) and his plans to send Tychicus to Titus (Titus 3:12). By this, we can conclude that Tychicus was a faithful helper to Paul in the final years of his life.

Ephesians 6:21–24 completes Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus. He has just described our tools of spiritual warfare, using the analogy of a soldier's armor. He has also reminded Christians of the importance of prayer in our moment-by-moment discipleship with Christ. In these closing verses, Paul will explain his plans to send Tychicus, one of his long-serving assistants, to deliver both this letter and additional news.

Paul gives specific instructions to children and fathers, stressing obedience and patience, respectively. He also directs servants to serve with sincerity and good intentions, as if they were working for Christ. Masters are warned not to be harsh: the same God who judges all will not give them preference over those they supervised. All Christians are called on to use the tools given us by God for surviving the attacks of the devil. These are imagined as pieces of a suit of armor. Paul ends this letter in his typical style, with prayer, blessings, and news about his plans.

Ephesians opens with three chapters of doctrine, followed by three chapters of practical application. This final chapter of Paul's letter focuses on specific ways Christians should live. It also summarizes the spiritual tools we are given by God, imagining them as a suit of armor. Paul pulls the same basic ideas from the rest of letter together, showing how Christians should live out their knowledge of what salvation in Christ really means.

Ephesians follows a theme common in Paul's writings: connecting theory with practice. In this book, however, he goes into greater depth before making the transition. As a letter meant to be read by more than just the believers at Ephesus, this is an important look at how Christian belief should translate into Christian action. The first three chapters lay out spiritual ideas, the last three chapters show how these truths should be applied in the life of a mature believer. Paul focuses heavily on love, the unity of the Christian church, and the incredible value of our salvation through Christ.