reference, “my beloved brother and faithful servant ;” and that in so many other places Paul speaks of those who attended him and in various forms served him. The words ἐν κυρίῳ, according to this view, belong equally to both words. He was a brother as well as a servant in the Lord, i. e. a Christian brother and ser- vant. It is more common, however, to understand the apostle as commending Tychicus as a faithful minister of the Gospel. In Col. 4, 7, he is called a fellow- servant, which favours the assumption that he was a fellow-labourer in the ministry. He is mentioned in Acts 20,4; 2 Tim. 4,12; Tit. 8,12. None of these passages, however, throws any light on his relation to the apostle further than that he was one of his attendants. As, however, in the next verse Paul says he had sent him not only that they might know his affairs, but also, παρακαλέσῃ τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν, that he might comfort your hearts ; the probability is altoge- ther in favour of his being a minister of Christ, who could communicate to the Ephesians not only the con- solation of favourable intelligence concerning Paul, but the higher consolations of the Gospel.
V. 23. Εἰρήνη τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς, peace be to the brethren. This is the usual form of salutation or benediction. It is not concord, but all the fruits of χάρις or favour of God. Kai ἀγάπη peta πίστεως, this does not mean love together with faith, as though two distinct bless- ings were intended ; but rather love united with faith. Faith they had; Paul’s prayer was that love might be connected with it. The love intended must be bro-
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