Hebrews 13:23
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Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
our brother Timothy--So Paul, Co1 4:17; Co2 1:1; Col 1:1; Th1 3:2. is set at liberty--from prison. So Aristarchus was imprisoned with Paul. BIRKS translates, "dismissed," "sent away," namely, on a mission to Greece, as Paul promised (Phi 2:19). However, some kind of previous detention is implied before his being let go to Philippi. Paul, though now at large, was still in Italy, whence he sends the salutations of Italian Christians (Heb 13:24), waiting for Timothy to join him, so as to start for Jerusalem: we know from Ti1 1:3, he and Timothy were together at Ephesus after his departing from Italy eastward. He probably left Timothy there and went to Philippi as he had promised. Paul implies that if Timothy shall not come shortly, he will start on his journey to the Hebrews at once.
Open source ↗The apostle, having treated largely of Christ, and faith, and free grace, and gospel privileges, and warned the Hebrews against apostasy, now, in the close of all, recommends several excellent duties to them, as the proper fruits of faith (v. 1-17); he then bespeaks their prayers for him, and offers up his prayers to God for them, gives them some hope of seeing himself and Timothy, and ends with the general salutation and benediction (Heb 13:18 to the end).
Open source ↗13:23 This Timothy may have been Paul’s traveling companion (see “Timothy” Profile); if so, his imprisonment is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. He clearly knows the author and the recipients of this letter.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker,
We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
So after I have completed this service and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there.