These two verses are practically identical with Colossians 4.7-8; verse 22 is exactly the same as Colossians 4.8 and should (unlike Good News Translation) be translated the same.

In verse 21 Tychicus is referred to as our dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord’s work (Col 4.7 adds “and fellow slave”).

Since the appositional phrase our dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord’s work is relatively long, it may be better to make it the predicate part of an initial sentence, for example, “Tychicus is our dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord’s work.” The possessive pronoun our may be interpreted as inclusive, since Paul evidently intends for the people at Ephesus to recognize Tychicus as a fellow believer. In a number of languages it is not possible to use a term meaning “brother,” since this may not have any figurative meaning. Therefore our dear brother must be rendered as “our dear fellow believer” or “a fellow believer whom we very much love.”

Faithful servant may perhaps best be interpreted as “one who serves us loyally” or else as “one who serves the Lord faithfully.” Faithful could be interpreted as “faithful to the Lord in the work that is done.”

The phrase in the Lord’s work may be expressed as “in doing work for the Lord” or “in what we do for the Lord.” There is a sense in which the Lord himself is working, but this is being done through Paul, Tychicus, and others.

Will give you all the news about me may be expressed as “will tell you everything about me” or perhaps better “will tell you everything that has been happening to me.”

The Greek construction which Good News Translation translates so that you may know may mean “so that you also may know” (Revised Standard Version and others). It is not clear what other group is implied by this “also.” Barth lists three possibilities and concludes that it means reciprocity: the writer had heard about them (1.15), and now they in turn are to hear about him. This is possible but doesn’t seem too probable. New English Bible, Translator’s New Testament, Barclay, New American Bible, like Good News Translation, translate simply “that you may know”; the Greek for “and” does not necessarily mean here “also, too.”

How I am getting along (Phillips “how I am getting on”) is an idiomatic representation of the Greek phrase which Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Barclay translate “what I am doing”; Moffatt, New English Bible, Translator’s New Testament translate “how I am.”

In some languages it may be important to select carefully an appropriate term for sending, since in this context there is obviously no threat of force or imposition. Therefore it is often more appropriate to translate the first clause of verse 22 as “that is why I am asking him to go to you” or “… to visit you.”

In verse 22 the author repeats his purpose in sending Tychicus to his readers, but in different words from those in verse 21, and this time includes others: to tell you how all of us are getting along. This is the first and only time in the letter that the writer associates others with himself.

The pronoun us in verse 22 is an exclusive first person plural form, since Paul is talking about himself and close colleagues and not about those who are in Ephesus.

In some languages the phrase to encourage you is translated as “cause your hearts to become strong” or “to take away your fears” or “to cause you no longer to worry.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .