2 Timothy 4:12
in 2 Timothy 4Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.
KJV
And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
⋯
This verse in 2 Timothy 4
Commentary
8 notes on this verseAnd Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. To supply the place of Timothy, while he came to Rome, and continued there: so careful was the apostle of the church there, that they might not be without the ministry of the word during his absence; see Eph 6:20.
This site's exposition
Do thy diligence to come shortly
on 2 Timothy 4:9-12
The requests turn personal: come shortly, for the circle has thinned. Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, the man who greeted the Colossians now departed to Thessalonica, and the two loves of the chapter face each other, his appearing against this present world. Only Luke is with me; and Mark, once the cause of the split with Barnabas at Acts 15:38-39, is now to be brought, for he is profitable to me for the ministry, one of Scripture's quiet restorations.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, especially the parchments. I have sent Tychicus. See the unity through all things. Bring the cloak that I left. Here Paul mentions a certain garment. However, …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Thus, I remained alone, and your presence is necessary.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Paul did not think it so; he loved the company of his friends. He speaks respectfully concerning Mark: He is profitable to me for the ministry. It is supposed that this Mark was he about whom Paul and Barnabas had contended, Acts xv.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus - For this person, see Act 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col 4:7. It is rather strange that the apostle should say, I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus, if Timothy was at Ephesus at this time; but it is probable that Tychicus had been sent to Ephesus some time before this, and therefore the apostle might say, though writing now to Ephesus, Tychicus have I sent, etc.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
And--Greek, "But." Thou art to come to me, but Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus to supply thy place (if thou so willest it) in presiding over the Church there in thy absence (compare Tit 3:12). It is possible Tychicus was the bearer of this Epistle, though the omission of "to thee" is rather against this view.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And Tychicus - See Act 20:4. In Eph 6:21, Paul calls him “a beloved brother, and faithful minister in the Lord.” But it may be asked why he did not retain him with him, or why should he have sent him away, and then call Timothy to him? The probability is, that he had sent him before he had seen reason to apprehend that he would be put to death; and now, feeling the need of a friend to be with him, he sent to Timothy, rather than to him, because Tychicus had been employed to perform some service which he could not well leave, and because Paul wished to give some some special instructions to Timothy before he died. Have I sent to Ephesus - Why, is not certainly known; compare Intro. Section 2.
The words behind it
5 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τύχικον | tuchikon | Tychicus | G5190 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἀπέστειλα | apesteila | I have sent | G649 → | |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Ἔφεσον.¶ | epheson | Ephesus. | G2181 → |
ΤύχικονTychicus
tuchikonG5190 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἀπέστειλαI have sent
apesteilaG649 →
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
Ἔφεσον.¶Ephesus.
ephesonG2181 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 6:21Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.
it leads to
- Acts 20:4
Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Titus 3:12
As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 20:4
Through
Acts 20:4Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
it leads to
- Acts 19:29
Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
- Ephesians 6:21
Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.
- 2 Timothy 4:20
Erastus has remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.
- Colossians 4:7
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.
- Acts 21:29
For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
- Acts 19:29
Through
Colossians 4:7Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:21–23
Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.
- Ephesians 6:21–23
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Timothy

Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- Person1st century ADTychicusBeloved brother and faithful minister, Paul's letter-carrier for Ephesians and Colossians (Eph 6:21-22; Col 4:7-8), sent again in…
- PlaceAsia MinorEphesusGreat harbor city of Asia, home of the Artemis temple; Paul's three-year base where the word grew mightily; addressed in Ephesians…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Timothy.
