7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[a] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
Back in the day, mail traveled via trusted messengers. Paul’s letters were delivered by trusted individuals who could give the people of Colossae (or wherever the letter had to be delivered) an update on how things were going in Paul’s neck of the Roman Empire.
They did more than deliver the mail. They could tell their audience firsthand how Paul was doing. In verses 7-9 we meet two messengers who Paul refers to as “beloved brothers.” The first one is Tychicus and the second is Onesimus. We find both of these men mentioned in other places in the Bible.
This Tychicus is likely the same Tychicus who delivered Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. We also read about Tychicus in the book of Acts as someone who accompanied Paul in Acts 20.
Onesimus is interesting. In Colossians we read that Paul writes that Onesimus is “one of you.” Onesimus is a fellow resident of Colosse
But when Onesimus lived in Colosse he was a slave. We read about Onesimus in the book of Philemon. Paul became like a father to Onesimus while he was in Rome. Paul sends Onesimus back to Colossae with this letter and also the letter of Philemon which asks Onesimus’s former master to accept him as a brother.
We see that Paul is recognizing those who are delivering this letter. In the life of Onesimus we see someone who God changed to be “useful” for Him. Paul writes to Philemon, “Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me” (Philemon 11).
We can see that God uses people like Tychicus and Onesimus as part of his plan. Not everyone is going to be a Paul, or a “put your favorite Christian author here.” But God uses people like Paul, to come alongside people like Onesimus so that they can learn and grow in their faith. Paul says that he became Onesimus’ father while he was in prison (Philemon 10).
Reading this passage makes me think of how the church can work: With older Christians coming alongside younger Christians or non-Christians, teaching and training them so that they can teach and train the next generation of believers.