The Apostolic Age · AD 4–70
Tychicus
fl. c. 57–66 (death unrecorded) · Delegate of Asia · Letter-carrier of the captivity epistles · Asia → Rome
The Apostolic Age
Who Tychicus was
“A beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord”: the Asian delegate of the collection who became Paul’s most trusted courier — named bearer of both Ephesians and Colossians, sent “that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts,” escorting the returning Onesimus, and twice more dispatched in the last letters (to Ephesus; considered for Crete). The circular-letter hypothesis makes him effectively the first distributor of a New Testament document. Later lists give him a bishopric at Colophon or Chalcedon.
Common questions
When was Tychicus active?
Tychicus is dated fl. c. 57–66 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Tychicus in the Apostolic Age (AD 4–70). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Tychicus?
Tychicus is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Paul and Paul of Tarsus. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Tychicus from?
The archive associates Tychicus with Asia, Rome. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Tychicus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Tychicus to 4 other figures, including Trophimus of Ephesus, Onesimus, Paul of Tarsus and Artemas. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Colossians 4:7
c. AD 55All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord.Paul · read ↗
Ephesians 6:21
c. AD 62Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things.Paul of Tarsus · read ↗
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Tychicus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.