Ephesians - The Lord’s Faithful Mentioned in Paul’s Epistles:

Paul addresses the Ephesians as being “the faithful in Christ Jesus” as well as being “saints,” i.e., holy. Also in Ephesians, he writes that Tychicus was a “beloved brother” and a “faithful minister in the Lord.”

•◦ “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 1:11 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

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◦ “But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:” Ephesians 6:2121 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

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The Greek word translated “faithful” in these verses is “pistos" (G4103) that occurs 66 times in the New Testament (NT). The King James Version (KJV) translates it: “faithful” 53 times; “believe” 6 times; “believing” twice; “true” twice; and once each “faithfully,” “believer” and “sure.” It occurs in every book in the NT except Mark, Romans, Philippians, Philemon, James, 2nd Peter, 2nd John and Jude.

In his church epistles Paul only addresses the Ephesians and Colossians (Colossians 1:22 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

) as faithful brethren in Christ.

According to a Greek scholar Pastor, the word “faithful” in Ephesians 1:1 is neither passive or active because it’s an adjective (not a verb) describing “the saints”. In Ephesians 6:21 where Tychicus is referred to as a faithful minister in the Lord, “faithful” is also an adjective. The only difference is that “faithful” in Ephesians 1:1 is dative, plural, masculine (pistois) describing the plural recipients of the letter whereas in Ephesians 6:11 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

it is nominative, singular, masculine (pistos) describing Tychicus. Tychicus is mentioned 5 times in the NT:

• ◦ Acts 10:44 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

records Tychicus as being from Asia and one of the 7 men who accompanied Paul from Greece through Macedonia into Asia.

◦ Colossians 4:77 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

Paul writes that Tychicus would advise the Colossians about his (Paul’s) state of affairs. In this verse Paul also describes Tychicus as a beloved brother, faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

◦ Paul advises Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1212 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

that he (Paul) sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

◦ Paul wrote Titus in Titus 3:1212 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.

that when he sends Artemas or Tychicus to Timothy, Timothy is to come to Paul in Nicopolis.

Others in the Pauline epistles described as faithful:

Epaphras:

• ◦ In Colossians 1:77 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

Paul describes Epaphras as a fellow servant who was a faithful minister to them (the Colossians).

◦ In Colossians 4:1212 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Paul writes that Epaphras was a native of Colosse, a servant of Christ, was with Paul when Paul wrote this epistle and was always laboring fervently for them in prayer that they would stand perfect and complete in the Will of God.

◦ In Philemon 1:2323 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

Paul writes to Philemon that Epaphras was a fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus with Paul

Timothy:

• ◦ Is described as faithful in the Lord, 1 Corinthians 4:1717 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

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Onesimus:

• ◦ Is described as being from Colossi and a faithful and beloved brother, Colossians 4:99 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

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Paul:

• ◦ Describes himself as having obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful, 1 Corinthians 7:2525 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

and in 1 Timothy 1:1212 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

he thanks Christ Jesus our Lord Who enabled and counted him faithful, putting him in the ministry. (Note that Paul gives the Lord Jesus Christ credit for his faithfulness.)

◦ ◦ God:

• ◦ Is described by Paul as faithful 9 times: 1 Corinthians 10:1313 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

; 2 Corinthians 1:1818 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

; 1 Thessalonians 5:2424 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

; 2 Thessalonians 3:33 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

; 1 Timothy 1:1515 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

; 2 Timothy 2:1313 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

; Hebrews 2:1717 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

; Hebrews 3:22 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

; Hebrews 10:2323 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

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Abraham:

• ◦ So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Galatians 3:99 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

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Sarah:

• ◦ Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Hebrews 11:1111 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

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Moses:

• ◦ And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; Hebrews 3:55 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

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