Naravist

Person in the New Testament

Tychicus

Tychicus: the companion of Asia sent to carry news and comfort hearts

Portrait of Tychicus. An AI-generated artistic interpretation, not a historical likeness.

Portrait: an AI-generated artistic interpretation, not evidence of how Tychicus looked.

Who Tychicus is

Acts names him once, in the list of those who accompanied Paul into Asia, where he appears with Trophimus as the two of Asia among seven named men. Ephesians calls him a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord who shall make known to you all things, and says he was sent for that purpose, that the readers might know our affairs and that he might comfort their hearts. Colossians calls him a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord, says he will declare all the writer's state, and says he was sent for the same purpose, to know their estate and comfort their hearts. Second Timothy says only, And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. Titus names him as one of two men who might be sent, saying that when Artemas or Tychicus is sent the reader should come to Nicopolis.

Cited passages: Acts 20:4, Ephesians 6:21, Ephesians 6:22, Colossians 4:7, Colossians 4:8, 2 Timothy 4:12, Titus 3:12

Historical setting

Acts supplies only his region, of Asia, and places him in a list of travelling companions without describing anything he did. The letters describe him in nearly identical words, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, with Colossians adding fellowservant. Nothing he says is recorded, and no action of his is narrated beyond being sent and being expected to report. He is given no home city, family or trade. The Ephesians and Colossians notices describe the same kind of errand in almost the same words, and the text does not say whether they refer to one journey or to two.

Cited passages: Acts 20:4, Ephesians 6:21, Ephesians 6:22, Colossians 4:7, Colossians 4:8, 2 Timothy 4:12, Titus 3:12

How the story is told

In every passage he carries news. The letters use him to close the gap a letter cannot close on its own: the writer stops describing his own state and says that Tychicus will tell them the rest. Twice the stated purpose is not information alone but comfort, that he might comfort your hearts. Titus makes him interchangeable with Artemas for the same errand, and Second Timothy reduces him to a single clause of dispatch. Acts lists him without comment, so what the reader knows of him rests on descriptions in letters rather than on a narrated scene.

Cited passages: Acts 20:4, Ephesians 6:21, Ephesians 6:22, Colossians 4:7, Colossians 4:8, 2 Timothy 4:12, Titus 3:12

Story moments

  1. Named among the companions (Acts 20:4). Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia accompany Paul with five other men.
  2. Sent to make known all things (Ephesians 6:21). He is described as the one who will tell the readers about the writer's affairs.
  3. Sent to comfort hearts (Ephesians 6:22). The stated purpose of his sending is that the readers might know and be comforted.
  4. Declaring the writer's state (Colossians 4:7). Colossians calls him a beloved brother, faithful minister and fellowservant.
  5. Sent to Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:12). A single clause reports that he has been sent to Ephesus.
  6. One of two possible messengers (Titus 3:12). Either Artemas or Tychicus may be sent, after which the reader is to travel to Nicopolis.

Key passages

Acts 20:4

And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

Ephesians 6:21

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:

Ephesians 6:24

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Printed after this letter in the King James Version: Written from Rome unto the Ephesians by Tychicus.

Colossians 4:7

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

Colossians 4:18

The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

Printed after this letter in the King James Version: Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.

2 Timothy 4:12

And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

King James Version. 7 indexed passages in total.

For reflection

Tychicus is called a beloved brother and a faithful minister three times and is never quoted once. What would you want to know about the person carrying a letter you were waiting for?

Books Tychicus appears in

Related people

Names and references are adapted from STEPBible TIPNR. A person listed with a verse is named or indexed there; it does not mean they wrote or spoke it.