John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose , etc.] That is, to relate to them his affairs both temporal and spiritual; and also, that he might know your estate . The Arabic version renders it, that I may know your estate by him when he returned again; as whether they continued steadfast in the Gospel, and observed the order, ordinances, and discipline of it; how it prospered, and was succeeded among them, to their comfort and edification, and to the conversion of others; and what reception the false teachers had among them; and what love, concord, and harmony were among themselves; or what were their afflictions and distresses from their enemies. The Ethiopic version renders it, that ye may know the history of me; which agrees with a manuscript mentioned by Grotius, which reads, that ye may know the things concerning us, as does the Alexandrian copy; and with ( Ephesians 6:22) where it is added, as here, and comfort your hearts; who might be greatly cast down upon hearing of the sufferings of the apostle, and also with those they themselves endured both from within and from without, from sin, Satan, and the world; see on Gill Ephesians 6:22 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-9 - Ministers are servants to Christ, and fellow-servants to one another They have one Lord, though they have different stations and powers for service. It is a great comfort under the troubles and difficulties of life, to have fellow Christians caring for us. Circumstances of lif make no difference in the spiritual relation among sincere Christians they partake of the same privileges, and are entitled to the sam regards. What amazing changes Divine grace makes! Faithless servant become faithful and beloved brethren, and some who had done wrong become fellow-workers of good.
Greek Textus Receptus
ον 3739 R-ASM επεμψα 3992 5656 V-AAI-1S προς 4314 PREP υμας 5209 P-2AP εις 1519 PREP αυτο 846 P-ASN τουτο 5124 D-ASN ινα 2443 CONJ γνω 1097 5632 V-2AAS-1S 1097 5632 V-2AAS-3S τα 3588 T-APN περι 4012 PREP υμων 5216 P-2GP και 2532 CONJ παρακαλεση 3870 5661 V-AAS-3S τας 3588 T-APF καρδιας 2588 N-APF υμων 5216 P-2GP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. I have sent. Epistolary aorist. Tychicus carried the letter.He might know your estate (gnw ta peri umwn). The correct reading is gnwte ta peri hJmwn ye might know the things about us, or our estate. Compare Eph. vi. 21.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:8 {I have sent} (epemya). Epistolary aorist active indicative of pempw as in #Eph 6:22. {That ye may know} (hina gnwte). Second aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive of ginwskw, "that ye may come to know." this the correct text, not gnwi (third singular). {Our estate} (ta peri hemwn). "The things concerning us." {May comfort} (parakalesei). First aorist active subjunctive. Proper rendering here and not "may exhort."
