Ephesians 6:19-24
Paul is in Rome waiting to appear before Caesar. Paul
would be making a Gospel presentation to Caesar Nero. The result of Paul's
appearance would determine his own safety and future, but more, the future of
the church.
6:19
Paul asks for prayers for
himself of ministry partners concerning their ministry:
- Romans 15:30-32
- 2 Cor. 1:11
- Col. 4:3-4
- 1 Thess. 5:25
- 2 Thess 3:1, 2
- Phil. 1:19
Paul asks for prayer
concerning:
- Freely - Words given him - parrhsia "parresia"
- "speaking everything, speaking openly, boldness"
- Clearly - boldly proclaim the mystery - gnwrisai "gnorisai"
"to make known"
- Boldly
- declare it boldly - parrhsiaswmai "parresiasomai"
- "to speak everything, to speak openly and frankly, to speak
boldly, to be bold"
"that
a word may be given" = "may be given" is passive indicating God
would give it.
"word"
is "utterance" which means the spoken word
6:20
"ambassador
in chains" - ambassadors at this time in history were honored positions
and there is never an example of an ambassador serving
while being held as a prisoner. In fact, the imprisonment of an ambassador would
be a treaty violation and a declaration of
war.
Tychicus - see Colossians 4:7-8.Tychicus would deliver the
letters to the Lycus valley. Tychicus is with Paul in Rome when he wrote Philemon, Colossians and
Ephesians
- Acts 20:4 - accompanied Paul to Jerusalem with offering
- Likely a native of Ephesus
- Often mentioned with Tromphimus
who was also a native of Ephesus
(Tromphimus was charged with being with Paul in
the temple - Ac.21:29)
- Likely was with Tromphimus
(two brethren) who accompanied Titus with the delivery of 2 Corinthians (2
Cor. 8:16-24)
- Tychicus was sent to Crete
to be with Titus (Titus 3:12)
- Tychicus was sent to Ephesus to be with Timothky
(2 Tim. 4:12)
6:23-24
Ancient letters were
concluded with a wish for the welfare of the reader.
Paul turns this closing into
a prayer of benediction.
"Peace" begins
verse 23
"Grace" begins
verse 24
Both were used in Paul's
introduction in 1:2
"love
with faith" means "love accompanied by faith" is from 1:15 and
3:17