Ephesians 6:22 KJV
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose,
that ye might know our affairs,
and [that] he might comfort your hearts.
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Other translations
New International Version
I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
New Living Translation
I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.
English Standard Version
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
Berean Study Bible
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
Berean Literal Bible
whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know the things concerning us, and he may encourage your hearts.
New King James Version
whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.
New American Standard Bible
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.
Amplified Bible
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are, and that he may comfort and encourage and strengthen your hearts.
x O x
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose
This shows the great concern the apostle had for the churches, being willing to inform them of everything that might be for their use and service
Whom I have sent unto you.
This verse corresponds word for word with Colossians 4:8, being a quasi-official statement of Tychicus’ commission.
The words “that he might comfort (or, encourage) your hearts,” although they might apply generally to all messengers from an Apostle, may probably be best explained by reference to the tone of the Epistle to the Philippians – in which St. Paul shows so much affectionate anxiety lest his converts should be disheartened by his continued imprisonment – and to the exhortation in this Epistle not “to faint at his tribulations for them” (Ephesians 3:13).
The churches where Paul had preached, would feel a great interest in his welfare.
He was a prisoner at Rome, and it was doubtful what the result would be.
In this situation, he felt it proper to despatch a special messenger
- to give information about his condition;
- to state what was doing in Rome;
- to ask the prayers of the churches;
- and to administer consolation to them in their various trials.
The same sentiment in regard to the embassy of Tychicus, is expressed in the Epistle to the Colossians, Colossians 4:7-8.
No small part of the consolation which he would impart to them would be found in these letters which he bore to them from the apostle.
I have sent
Literally: “I did send.”
The aorist is “epistolary”; it speaks from the time of the arrival, not of the sending, of the messenger. (Cp. 2 Corinthians 8:18; 22; Philippians 2:28; Colossians 4:8; Philemon 1:12, etc.
For the same purpose
Greek: “for this very purpose”
Colossians 4:8 is almost word for word the same as this verse.
That ye might know our affairs
Temporal and spiritual, and not only the apostle’s affairs, but the affairs of those that were with him, who were concerned in the same common cause.
Our affairs
Greek: “the things concerning us”
Namely, the circumstances concerning Paul himself. “Aristarchus, his fellow prisoner, and Marcus sister’s son to Barnabas” (Colossians 4:10).
There are also passages (see esp. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2) where he obviously uses “we” in the sense of “I”; but this is not likely here, in view of the “how I do,” just before (Ephesians 6:22).
And that he might comfort your hearts
Both by such a relation, and by the ministry of the Gospel to them.
Believers in Christ are sometimes disconsolate,
▪︎ by reason of indwelling sin,
▪︎ Satan’s temptations,
▪︎ the hidings of God’s face,
▪︎ afflictions and persecutions,
▪︎ their own sufferings,
▪︎ and the sufferings of others.
*It is the business of the ministers of Christ to comfort them.
Their commission is to speak comfortably to them
And they are qualified for it,
▪︎ by inward comforts in their own souls;
▪︎ the Gospel they preach,
▪︎ and the message they bring,
This all is of a comfortable nature.
The Spirit of God acts by them, and with them as a comforter; and sad indeed is the state of Zion, or the church of Christ, when it has no comforters.
Comfort
The word is rendered “beseech,” Ephesians 4:1, above.
By derivation and usage it has more in it of exhortation than consolation; though the two ideas run often into one another.
“Comfort” by derivation (confortatio) means rightly, “strengthening.” If this is borne in mind, the Amplified Version gives a true interpretation.
Your hearts
See, for a collocation of the words “heart” and “comfort,” Colossians 2:2; 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:1
Greek
I have sent ☆ ἔπεμψα (epempsa) ☆ Verb – Aorist Indicative Active – 1st Person Singular ☆ To send, transmit, permit to go, put forth.
[him] ☆ ὃν (hon) ☆ Personal / Relative Pronoun – Accusative Masculine Singular ☆ Who, which, what, that.
To ☆ πρὸς (pros) ☆ Preposition ☆ To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.
You ☆ ὑμᾶς (hymas) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Accusative 2nd Person Plural ☆ You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.
For ☆ εἰς (eis) ☆ Preposition ☆ A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.
This very ☆ αὐτὸ (auto) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular ☆ He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.
Purpose ☆ τοῦτο (touto) ☆ Demonstrative Pronoun – Accusative Neuter Singular ☆ This; he, she, it.
That ☆ ἵνα (hina) ☆ Conjunction ☆ In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.
You may know ☆ γνῶτε (gnōte) ☆ Verb – Aorist Subjunctive Active – 2nd Person Plural ☆ A prolonged form of a primary verb; to ‘know’ in a great variety of applications and with many implications.
About ☆ περὶ (peri) ☆ Preposition ☆ From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.
Us ☆ ἡμῶν (hēmōn) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Genitive 1st Person Plural ☆ I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
And [that] ☆ καὶ (kai) ☆ Conjunction ☆ And, even, also, namely.
He may encourage ☆ παρακαλέσῃ (parakalesē) ☆ Verb – Present Subjunctive Active – 3rd Person Singular ☆ From para and kaleo; to call near, i.e. Invite, invoke.
Your ☆ ὑμῶν (hymōn) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Genitive 2nd Person Plural ☆ You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.
Hearts ☆ καρδίας (kardias) ☆ Noun – Accusative Feminine Plural ☆ Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle
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