Ephesians 6:21-24, Good Old Tychicus

²¹ 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. ²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

²³ Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

(Verses 21-24)

There is much here, and a lot can be seen that communicates Paul’s heart. He’s laid out a ton of theology, and now Paul ends his ‘beefy’ letter with this final benediction or blessing. These final verses are not doctrine so much as they are God’s window into the apostle’s heart.

You are Ephesus. The letter is written to you just as much as that church, and reading (and rereading) we really need to see ourselves as Ephesus (albeit 2000 years removed). The letter belongs to you as much as it belonged to the churches in Asia Minor. You really need to realize this as it changes it from history to personal accountability.

Ephesians is your personal letter from ‘home.’

Please see this as it alters the entire book. It is yours and shouldn’t ever be regulated as fine ideas or sterile theology. This letter belongs to you personally. So dear one, make it yours, for you are God’s target, and as a believer, you are loved!

Tychicus has been chosen to carry this letter to the Ephesians, which will be sent to all the churches in Asia Minor. I’m pretty sure copies will be made, and the original will stay with the bishop of Ephesus. The journey though will be a long one, and the messenger must travel from Rome to Ephesus which only the brave would do. It could be difficult.

“Travelers journeyed in convoy, sometimes hiring soldiers to protect them from robbers who preyed on the unsuspecting. Roman roads made things somewhat easier but still, walking, perhaps hiring a donkey or paying for passage on a merchant’s ship… Travel was for the brave and the strong.”

(https://cloudofwitnesses.org.uk/studies/tychicus)

Tychicus is mentioned 6x in the NT. He was a ‘gospel-veteran’ who ministered with Paul in various places in the Roman empire. Incidentally, it appears he had a good relationship with Timothy who was a new pastor of the church in Ephesus. Tychicus was someone whom Paul trusted implicitly. He was carrying Paul’s heart.

Tychicus was loyal, brave, and completely reliable. I think Paul had confidence that he would do everything necessary to make sure this letter would get through. We find that he was able to do this (thank God). We owe a spiritual debt to this man.

We can skim through this passage and never really see Tychicus at all.

Tychicus seems to have no real preaching ability, but he is called “beloved” and “faithful” in verse 21. In verse 22 he is called a “brother” and a “minister.” That word for minister is διάκονος, deacon and it means “a servant of a king” or a “waiter of tables.” I believe that reveals someone who is a minister to the needy (which is no small thing).

Paul closes his letter with a benediction.

In verses 23-24, we see the blessing is given to the church. He pronounces “peace,” “love,” and “faith.” He speaks out of God’s heart to the Ephesians, and as a leader, he is conveying God’s own blessing. A proper benediction always originates from Him and is hardly just a nice word. It is a powerful thing.

“Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”

(verse 24)

Ephesians 6:1-4, A Child and a Father

“Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: ³ If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

⁴ “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”

Eph. 6:1-4

Remarkable, isn’t it? This passage touches on the family. It focuses on both children and also fathers. As a believing family, we must realize our blood relationships are quite significant. It seems the Father puts a lot of weight on blood ties family. Maybe that is the real reason behind those tedious genealogies in the Old Testament (and Matthew).

Children (the next generation) are specifically called to obey their parents. This is critical, for its very presence is the thing that teaches how to honor God himself. Many struggle because they’ve never learned this. Having never really learned to truly obey our parents we face spiritual consequences. Eternal ones.

Is it that reason that many of us grapple with obedience issues with God and the Church?

The 10 Commandments carry weight with Paul. They’re not obsolete. They’re not superseded. But they must be understood through the gospel. We move from legalism to grace. When we come to the O.T., we’re to use a spiritual lens of the Holy Spirit and the gospel.

Spiritual anarchy has terrible consequences.

When children are carefully raised with the careful teaching of their parents, both are blessed in a special way by God. When the child makes their decision to follow Jesus, a wonderful foundation has already been laid. For many of us though, obedience must be learned with some difficulty.

Verse 4 is addressed to fathers. We now see the focus has shifted once more. Fathers are critical to the spiritual life of their children.

Fathers must understand their responsibility before God.

• “Provoke,” in original Greek –“to rouse to wrath, to provoke, exasperate, anger”
• “Your children to anger”–is the same exact word!

It seems they copy the anger of their fathers. Children react in the same way that their father acts toward them. That really is sobering and needs to change us. God the true Father himself will teach us.

Our treatment of our children is a definite part of our own discipleship.

We need to encourage. We need to discipline. “Bring them up” is a phrase we seem to skip over, but it has the idea of “nourishing” or “bring them up to maturity.”

“That comes from the Lord.”

The source or beginning point is our heavenly Father. We draw everything from Him. The phrase “discipline and instruction” is a potent mixture that must be used repeatedly. Every child is different, and their circumstances are varied. They may have teased another child, shoplifted, or cheated on an exam.

All these things require the father to correct and guide in a wise and gentle way.

Our Father is super aware of our need to “father.” He shows us exactly what is needed.

Ephesians 5:21-24, Submission: A Very Radical Idea

²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

²² For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. ²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

Ephesians 5:21-24, NLT

Jesus shows us how to submit. For some the “s-word” grates. We can’t stomach it–it seems screwy and even degrading. Why? (And the Gospel was fantastic up to now!)

A couple of things that I’ve learned (or at least I think I’ve learned.) 🙂

• You shouldn’t separate submission from humility and gentleness.
• You must have humility (and real love) to make submission work biblically.
• If you choose to not do this you end up with something twisted and wrong.
• No one should dominate another, including the Church’s leadership.

Verse 21 should be written in “neon lights.” It must penetrate our hearts before we can even think about verses 22-24. This really is the core thought. We must submit to each other if we genuinely revere Jesus. This honestly isn’t an option and is rarely fully practiced. I doubt “marriage” submission can exist without “church” submission. They complement each other and should function together.

The word “submit” literally means “to arrange under, to submit to another’s control, to subordinate.”

Now the bugaboo. We see “marriage” submission, verses 22-24 and we should realize that this is God’s word (and Spirit). “For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Notice it says, “to the Lord.” The wife renders this to Jesus and by doing this honors Him directly. Doing this alters the concept of a wife’s submission to her husband.

You must remember that this is all God’s idea.

There’s a loving arrangement in this passage.

1. Jesus Christ, the head and leader of the Church.
2. A husband carries the authority in marriage.
3. A wife who understands that authority.

“”In everything” is often misunderstood. There are some who think that this amounts to mastery or domination. That’s hardly the case in a God-honoring marriage. There’s an incredible difference. Nothing should violate any obedience to God’s Word, or erode our “first love” toward Jesus. (Revelation 2:4).

Husbands need grace. Wives need grace. Being a servant to each other diffuses any conflict that may come and submission should bring joy.

As I read this passage I’m struck by the need for prayer. The husband desperately needs it and the wife could also use a dose or two herself.

“Nothing can bring a real sense of security into the home except true love.”

    Billy Graham

3:6-7, Everyone is Equal in God’s Eyes

“And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.”

⁷ “By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.”

Equality is defined as “being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value.” Paul uses this to explain God’s plan for the Church. It means there are no second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God. Everyone shares everything God gives, everyone is equal and can receive that wonderful grace. Jews and Gentiles are now ‘one and the same.’

Can you understand exactly how radical this idea is?

“And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children.“

This is a revolutionary idea, never advanced by anyone else but by Paul. We have no idea living in the 21st century of the tension that existed in the 1st. But Paul presses this idea–God insists that everyone is the same. The Jews have no right to insist on a superior place in the Lord’s plan–this is nothing more than ‘crazy talk.’

Both the Jews and those pesky Gentiles are sharing God’s grace–there’s a spiritual pile of gold, diamonds, and rubies enough for everyone. Sure this is spiritual, but each group can freely take all that they need. And I for one suck at grace–desperately. But when I cry out to Him for mercy, God invites me to come.

But the real issue is ‘believing.’

“Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.”

Jesus is our ultimate superior in everything. The obvious issue is one of ‘believing’ in Him. Both Jews and Gentiles can now relish the ‘promise of blessings’ that Jesus Christ now gives. Both groups share the advantage of being His favorites.

‘Belonging’ is now our calling. Wow!

To belong means an attachment to something or someone. We’re a people who are now Jesus’ possession. We’re His, and He has fastened us to Himself–we now belong to Jesus. I suppose this is now an incredible blessing, especially to the discouraged, the defeated, and the depressed.

“By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.”

This is the powerful scope and privilege of Paul’s ministry. He’s a mere servant and he understands that He must communicate the Gospel. Paul understands his ‘privilege’ in this. It isn’t a burden for Paul, but an honor.

We must see that God’s grace and power energize Paul. He shares with us all that he knows.

We have to be energized by Him, we need His grace to survive spiritually. We must understand that His fuel is to give life to the spiritually needy.

I think I might understand.

This is something that motivates Paul. He understands what he is and what he’s called to teach. The Gospel must be communicated in the bright light of God’s favor. Without this Paul cannot operate, the ‘Good News’ means both Jews and Gentiles are singular, and he explains that each group is one. Both must understand this.

Grace is all there is. And grace is all that really matters.

3:1-5, A Captivated Captive

When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles ² assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. ³ As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. ⁴ As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. ⁵ God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit, he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

Paul was a prisoner as he wrote all this down. During the day he could move around a house, but must always be accompanied by a Roman guard. At night he was chained to a soldier so he would not escape. He would spend almost four years in Rome under house arrest.

Ephesians is remarkable in that Paul didn’t make his personal imprisonment an issue, this is the only mention of his situation to his readers.

“When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles.”

Paul definitely wore Roman chains, but he was never, ever their prisoner. Rather, he wore his fetters because it was Jesus’ will for him! Those iron shackles were worn for other believers. The Gentiles were always God’s focus. Paul’s imprisonment was for their advantage–he understood this. (I’m sure it was never easy though.)

Now he had plenty of time to write and pray for those things which were needed by the Church.

According to tradition, these are Paul’s chains on display at the Chapel of the Relics, the Basilica of Saint Paul in Rome.

“Assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles.” 

Paul understood his calling and gifting. This isn’t a casual thing–it was his “responsibility.” He saw his work of extending God’s grace and love to the Ephesians (and most were Gentiles).

The word “responsibility” is οἰκονομία— it means “someone who directs the affairs of an important estate, a manager or an overseer, a head butler.” Paul understands that God’s house must have someone to be an administrator to oversee this ministry.

The Gentiles needed someone like Paul to explain to them about grace, and love, and mercy. He did this very well.

“As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. ⁴ As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ.“

(Briefly? Not sure about that.) 🙂

The source of this revelation was “God Himself,” which emphasizes its seriousness. It was a “revelation,” something mysterious that needed an explanation. Paul was charged by God to communicate this to Gentiles.

Ephesians chapters 1-2 explain this revelation. Paul wants them to read (and reread) until they understand “this plan.” Furthermore, Christ is the fulfillment of this “good news,” He Himself is the Gospel. Jesus Christ just isn’t a new twist on salvation, but He’s the Way we are saved. The Gospel isn’t a nice methodology, salvation is now a person of the Trinity. Paul knew this.

“God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit, he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.“

The Gospel has waited a long time to come to us; it wasn’t understood by earlier men. But now it has come, and those who’ve been called into an apostolic or prophetic ministry now see and embrace it. The Holy Spirit is evident through it all. This has been a work that God has initiated.

The whole earth is now the Christian’s mission field.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

Chapter 1:15-17, Paul Goes to Work

Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, ¹⁷ asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

Paul now shifts from theology to prayer. It’s the second section of chapter one. Personally, I’m impressed with the absolute need for this dynamic. Theology is great, (verses 3-14) but as leaders, we dare not try to teach one without the other. Prayer is Paul’s way of making theology real.

Theology means very little without intercession.

“Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere,”

Paul heard. It was a report, a letter, a testimony perhaps–but Paul knew. Strong faith…your love is the critical fruit of real Christianity. This was a faithful and true church, and these two qualities are what made the Ephesians real. I believe that is the way we determine authenticity.

The word used for love is agape. God’s love is both limitless and unparalleled. It loves in spite of obstacles and sin. It’s His love, and it never ever gives up.

 “I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly,” 

Paul isn’t side-tracked like we are sometimes. He doesn’t stop, he’s like a “runaway train!” Chained in prison, held and confined, Paul understands prayer and what it does.

Paul prays for the Ephesians constantly. He can’t be stopped!

Constantly is an exciting word in Greek, it means to continue all the time without deviation or interruption.

It’s also interesting. As verses 3-14 are one long sentence in Greek, but so are verses 15-23!

Paul can’t contain himself. He turns on a “spiritual fire hose” on the Ephesians. He blasts and pounds them, first with theology and now with prayer. And by doing so he gives an example of true spiritual leadership. We do well to try to do the same; our churches are counting on us.

“Asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom“

The previous verses emphasized theological truth. Knowing who we are–predestined, adopted as sons. Now Paul wants to burn these truths in their hearts through intercessory prayer. He wants God to give them a “present,” the gift of spiritual wisdom. (Perhaps we need this as well?)

Wisdom is a critical component of receiving from God.

“Spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.“

Growing up is a God-thing. But it often comes when leaders pray long and hard for their church. I for one seem to emphasize preaching–imparting theology in the best way I can. BUT…maybe prayer and intercession are what I’m missing. Maybe our leaders need to back up their teaching with it. Maybe it’s why the churches seem to struggle so?

“The church that is not jealously protected by mighty intercession and sacrificial labors will before long become the abode of every evil bird and the hiding place for unsuspected corruption. The creeping wilderness will soon take over that church that trusts in its own strength and forgets to watch and pray.“

   A.W. Tozer

ephesians101.com

Chapter 1:9-10, Everything Comes Together in Christ

^“He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.”

Ephesians 1:9-10

He made known to us the mystery of his will. “Known” here means having a thorough knowledge. It’s knowing, but having it made whole and complete to our hearts. It’s spiritual granite.

“Mystery”–it comes to only those who have been initiated, it’s a word that implies “exclusivity.” You can only understand if you’ve gone through all of the previous steps (verses 3-8). It’s going to be a locked book otherwise. You’ll think you know, but you really don’t have the slightest.

According to the good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time. Please don’t try to completely understand this. You will never quite grasp its significance. Perhaps He takes a kick out of saving us out of our confusion and sin in spite of our ignorance. He absolutely delights in saving you!

“He purposed in Christ.” He has a very specific motive–it’s His pleasure. And, it was waiting until the time was just right. It’s a plan that was just waiting for the perfect time to be launched. His perfect design that is now part of history, and, we’re part of this!

“I say this because I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.”

Jeremiah 29:11, NCV

To bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.” He’s the magnet of God. He pulls everything toward Him, like iron filings come together with a power that we can’t grasp–unless, we are initiated into this mystery. We really can’t grasp it until we’re “in Him, (phrase used 12x in this letter).

“In heaven…on earth” It shocks us to realize the totality of this idea. Jesus Christ is the center of the entire universe. It’s all about Him. History (his-story) can only be understood with Him as the “hub.” It doesn’t make sense otherwise. He’s the complete center of history. The entire universe is His.

“All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.”

John 1:3

“Christ the Redeemer” statue stands in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It’s considered as one of seven new “wonders of the world.”

Evil and Magic in Ephesus

Selling Idols in Ephesus

^“And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, ¹⁹ while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ In this way the word of the Lord spread and prevailed.”

Acts 19:18-20

Many years ago I served in evangelism work in the Mission district of San Francisco, California. The challenges there were staggering, there was a concentrated evil present. Something very wicked. A pastor friend once told me that a cult a day was born there. He also said that it was “the graveyard of churches.”

I first encountered definite demonic forces in San Francisco.

So many walked in homosexuality, drug addiction, and strange doctrines, etc. I witnessed so much evil that I choose not to share because I really don’t want to glorify this iniquity. But believe me, this beautiful city is saturated with darkness and perversion. I saw it up close.

Ephesus ranked right up there as a center of evil and magic.

Diana of Ephesus was a very well-known goddess in ancient times. Diana’s temple (Temple of Artemis) was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. She was seen as a goddess of fertility and to highlight this she’s covered with breasts.

The text I chose to open this teaching is from Acts 19, but there is much more here.

• Paul healed and cast out many demons while in Ephesus. (Acts 19:11-12)
• The seven sons of Sceva tried to copy Paul. (Acts 19:13-16)
• Demetrius, an idol maker incited a riot that tried to destroy Paul and the church. (Acts 19:24-34)
• The basis of this riot was financial, which every believer must understand when dealing with iniquity in a center of evil. It’s often the root cause. Magic scrolls, rings, amulets, bracelets, and necklaces thought to have powers were all common in ancient Ephesus. A financial loss was an issue.
• Paul exhorts the church in Ephesians chapter 6 to “put on the full armor of God.” He lists each piece and describes its purpose. The church needed that direction because the city was saturated with evil. The specific direction had to be given for their spiritual survival. (Ephesians 6:10-20)
• Paul spoke of “wrestling with the wild beasts” while in Ephesus. I don’t believe that he is literal.
• The church in Ephesus understood up to a point, but they were rebuked for having “left their first love. In Revelation 2:1-7 we can read of their sin.

I’m certain that the church faced many other challenges in this city. The demonic was active there. Believers had to encounter this on a daily basis.

“There is nothing so abominable in the eyes of God and of men as idolatry, whereby men render to the creature that honor which is due only to the Creator.”

    Blaise Pascal

Ephesus: The City

What was Ephesus like? Understanding the background of this important city will clarify Paul’s greatest Epistle.

The city of Ephesus was incredibly prominent in the Roman empire. One of the seven wonders of the world was the Temple of Artemis which pretty much defined the city. It becomes the background of much of Paul’s ministry there. The length of that Temple was 377 feet, or 125 yards long, (bigger than a NFL football field)! You can also see the ruins of the theater–it could seat 25,000 people comfortably.

The population of the city was 300,000 (bigger than Stockton, CA or Pittsburgh, PA)!

It was governed by over 100 senators in a primitive sort of democracy. It was seen as the third largest city in the empire. Ephesus had a fine harbor to the west and was at the end of an important trading highway to the east. Ephesus therefore served as a center for east-west trade, and it became the greatest commercial city of the Asian province.

The city was definitely a pagan one, with various temples throughout the city. It was also the significant center of magic and the occult which had a terribly dark influence on much of the empire. (But more about that later.)

Being as large as it was its effect was considerable.

Paul spent at least three years living and ministering there, and the book of Acts described his work. We can read of his efforts in Acts chapters 18-19. We know that he was there from 52-55 AD. It’s clear that the Apostle Paul loved the Church in Ephesus, and esteemed the disciples who lived there. It’s also believed by some that John ministered there at the end of his life. Ephesus is also where Apollos began his ministry, Acts 18:24-28.

Regarding Paul and his ministry in Ephesus:

“Here for the space of three complete years – a unique length of stationary work for him – Paul had lived and laboured, not as the apostolic missionary only but as the apostolic pastor. Here he had taken that critical and momentous step, the ‘separation’ of the disciples from the Synagogue to a distinct place of teaching and no doubt of worship, ‘the school of one Tyrannus,’ the lecture-hall, we may suppose, of a friendly professor in what we may call the Ephesian University. Here he had laboured, watched, and wept, for both the community and individuals.”

Henry Moule

Map of the Main Cities of the Empire