“Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;”
And with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here — Onesimus (also Philemon's runaway slave mentioned in the letter to Philemon) is 'faithful and beloved' and 'one of you' (ex hymōn): he belongs to Colossae. He is restored to his owners in brotherhood, not merely servitude. The two together bring comprehensive news.
Church Fathers on Colossians 4:8
“Whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose.” Here he shows his great love, seeing that for this purpose he sent him, and this was the cause of his journey; and so when writing to the Thessalonians, he said, “Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone, and sent Timothy our brother.” 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2 And to the Ephesians he sends this very same person, and for the very same cause, “That he might know your estate,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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