EPISTLE Tu THE EPHESIANS. 113 



CHAPTEK YI. 



THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 



I. This epistle, and the epistle to the Colossians, appear 

 to have been transmitted to their respective churches by the 

 same messenger : " But that ye also may know my afiairs, 

 and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful min- 

 ister m the Lord, shall make known to you all things ; whom 

 I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might 

 know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts." 

 Ephes. 6 : 21, 22. This text, if it do not expressly declare, 

 clearly I think intimates, that the letter was sent by Tychi- 

 cus. The words made use of by him in the epistle to the 

 Colossians are very similar to these, and afford the same 

 implication that Tychicus, in conjunction with Onesimus, 

 was the bearer of the letter to that church : " All my state 

 shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, 

 and a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord ; 

 whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he 

 might know your estate, and comfort your hearts ; with 

 Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. 

 They shall make known unto you all things which are done 

 here." Col. 4 : 7-9. Both epistles represent the writer as 

 under imprisonment for the gospel ; and both treat of the 

 same general subject. The epistle therefore to the Ephe- 

 sians, and the epistle to the Colossians, import to be two 

 letters written by the same person, at or nearly at the same 

 time, and upon the same subject, and to have been sent by 

 the same messenger. Now every thing in the sentiments, 

 order, and diction of the two WTitings, corresponds with what 

 might be expected from this circumstance of identity or cog- 

 nation in their original. The leading doctrine of both epis- 

 tles is the union of Jews and Gentiles under the Christian 

 dispensation ; and that doctrine in both is established by the 

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