Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.’” Luke 10:7
Hippolytus of Rome gives us the oldest extant list of the 70 (Luke 10:1-7). Today’s post highlights his account of 51-60.
“61. Tychicus, bishop of Chalcedon.
62. Carpus, bishop of Berytus in Thrace.
63. Evodus, bishop of Antioch.
64. Aristarchus, bishop of Apamea.
65. Mark, who is also John, bishop of Bibloupolis.
66. Zenas, bishop of Diospolis.
67. Philemon, bishop of Gaza.
68, 69. Aristarchus and Pudes.
70. Trophimus, who was martyred along with Paul.
Hippolytus of Rome in On the End of the World, 49.
As I stated previously, for some of these names, it is impossible to note whether they are the ones mentioned by Paul or Luke in the writings of the New Testament, but it is interesting to note that these names do seem to play key roles in Christian mission.
For example, we find a mention of a Tychicus is Ephesians 6:21 and Colossians 4:7. Paul left a cloak with Carpus, and asked Timothy to collect it with his books and parchments in 2 Timothy 4:13.
Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus are mentioned in Colossians 4:10-11. Philemon is a Colossian convert and co-worker of Paul. He has his own letter in which Paul urges him to free a slave, Onesimus.
Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke are mentioned in Philemon 1:24. Peter refers to John Mark as “my son” (1 Peter 5:13), even though they are not blood-related.
Zenas is a lawyer whom Paul tells Titus to send along with Apollos, seeing “that they lack nothing” in Titus 3:13. I love that a lawyer is a part of the story near the death of Paul. It seems that Paul wants to spend time with his lawyer on his way to Rome to meet the emperor.
Trophimus, lastly, comes into view as a Christian from Ephesus in Asia who travels with Paul for a while. He’s mentioned with Tychichus in Acts 20:4 and also in 21:29. Paul left him ill in Miletus in 2 Timothy 4:20. Hippolytus adds that he was martryed with Paul.
What is unmistakably evident is that mission was back then and is today a team effort. Also, no task is more or less important whether you are delivering a coat and books or a gospel message.
Also, sacrifice is evident. To see that “someone lacks nothing” means that sometimes our role is to resource God’s servants who are on mission with whatever we have. Teamwork. Sacrifice.
And one more thing from Hippolytus. To use “my son” language of a Christian brother surfaces the notion that when we work together on mission, we are family. Teamwork. Sacrifice. Family.
Thanks Hippolytus for this list and for reminding us to work together, even to the point of giving our lives—generously and sacrificially—as a family who aim only to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.