Hebrews 13:23

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.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Heb 13:23. Γινώσκετε) know ye, with joy.—τὸν ἀδελφὸν, our brother) So Timothy is called by Paul: see note on 1Co 4:17.—ἀπολελυμένον, set at liberty) He had therefore been in prison.—ἔρχηται, if he come) to me. Therefore they had been in different places.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Heb_13:23. Communication of the intelligence that Timothy has been set free, and the promise, if the arrival of Timothy is not long delayed, in company with him to visit the readers.

γινώσκετε] is imperative (Peshito, Vulgate, Faber Stapulensis, Luther, Calvin, Beza, Junius, Owen, Bengel, Böhme, Stuart, Bleek, I. p. 278; Stein, Ebrard, Bisping, Delitzsch, Alford, Maier, Kluge, Moll, Kurtz, Ewald, MCaul, Hofmann, Woerner, and others), not indicative (Vatablus, Nösselt, Opusc. I. p. 256; Morus, Schulz, Bleek ad loc., and Einl. in d. N. T., 3 Aufl. p. 583; de Wette, al.). For, that the author would be obliged to communicate further details concerning the liberation of Timothy in the case that the readers had not yet known of it, cannot be maintained; while, on the other hand, upon the supposition of the indicative, the whole notice would become superfluous.

γινώσκετε ἀπολελυμένον] know as one released, i.e. know that he has been released. Comp. Winer, Gramm., 7 Aufl. p. 324. Wrongly will Storr, Schleussner, Bretschneider, Paulus have γινώσκετε taken in the sense: hold in honour, or: receive with kindness, against which, equally as against the interpretation of Schulz: ye know the brother Timothy, who has been set at liberty, the non-repetition of the article τόν before the participle is in itself decisive.

ἀπολελυμένον] is to be understood of liberation from imprisonment. So Chrysostom, Oecumenius, and Theophylact (all three, however, with hesitation), then Beza, Grotius, Er. Schmid, Seb. Schmidt, Hammond, Wolf, Bengel, Sykes, Chr. Fr. Schmid, Böhme, Bleek, de Wette, Stengel, Ebrard, Bisping, Delitzsch, Maier, Kurtz, Ewald, MCaul, Hofmann, and others. Of an imprisonment of Timothy nothing is known to us, it is true, from other sources, but the possibility of the same cannot be disputed. The suppositions, that ἀπολελυμένον signifies: sent away to the Hebrews with our epistle (Theodoret, subscription of the epistle in many cursives: ἐγράφη ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας διὰ Τιμοθέου; Faber Stapulensis, al.), or: sent away somewhither, and consequently absent from the author (Estius, Jac. Cappellus, Limborch, Carpzov, Stuart, and others), have the simple signification of the word against them.

ἐὰν τάχιον ἔρχηται] if he very speedily (earlier, sooner than I leave my present abode) comes to me (incorrectly Grotius, Heinrichs, Stuart, al.: returns).

ὄψομαι ὑμᾶς] Oecumenius: ἐρχόμενος πρὸς ὑμᾶς.

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Heb 13:23 . γινώσκετε τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν .… “Know that our brother Timothy has been released” ( ἀπολελυμένον , for example of this use of the participle, see Winer, sec. 45, 4 b). Evidently Timothy had been under arrest; where, when, or why is not known. The information is given because it would interest these Hebrew Christians, who were therefore friends of his, not Judaizers. μεθʼ οὗ … “with whom, if he come soon, I will see you”. He takes for granted that Timothy would at once go to them; and he speaks as one who is himself free or is immediately to be free to determine his own movements. [ τάχειον , = θᾶττον , a comparative in the sense of a positive; a classical usage; and cf. Joh 13:27 , ὃ ποιεῖς ποίησον τάχιον .] The usual greetings are added. Epistolary form required this (see the Egyptian papyri) but in view of what the writer has said regarding the rulers, and in view of the πάντας here expressed, it may be supposed that the formula was here filled with significant contents. Who was to convey the salutations? Or, in other words, who was directly to receive the letter? Probably one or two of the leading men representing the Church. This would account for the πάντας . The greetings were not on the writer’s part only. οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰταλίας , “they of Italy” joined in them. The form of expression is that which is ordinarily used to denote natives of a place, as in Luk 23:50 ; Joh 1:44 ; Joh 11:1 ; Act 17:13 , etc. Winer says (p. 785): “a critical argument as to the place at which the Epistle was written should never have been founded on these words”. Vaughan is certainly wrong in saying that the more natural suggestion of the words would be that the writer is himself in Italy and speaks of the Italian Christians surrounding him. The more natural suggestion, on the contrary, is that the writer is absent from Italy and is writing to it and that therefore the native Italians who happen to be with him join him in the salutations he sends to their compatriots.

The Epistle closes with one of the usual formulae, “Grace be with you all”.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 23. Know ye that our brother Timothy] The word ημων, our, which is supplied by our translators, is very probably genuine, as it is found in ACD*, ten others, the Syriac, Erpen's Arabic, the Coptic, Armenian, Slavonic, and Vulgate.

Is set at liberty] απολελυμενον. Is sent away; for there is no evidence that Timothy had been imprisoned. It is probable that the apostle refers here to his being sent into Macedonia, Php 2:19-24, in order that he might bring the apostle an account of the affairs of the Church in that country. In none of St. Paul's epistles, written during his confinement in Rome, does he give any intimation of Timothy's imprisonment, although it appears from Php 1:1; Col 1:1; Phm 1:1; that he was with Paul during the greatest part of the time.

With whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.] Therefore Paul himself, or the writer of this epistle, was now at liberty, as he had the disposal of his person and time in his own power. Some suppose that Timothy did actually visit Paul about this time, and that both together visited the Churches in Judea.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

23. Know ye that our brother, etc. Since the termination of the Greek verb γινώσκετε, will admit of either renderings, we may read, “Ye know,” or, “Know ye;” but I prefer the latter reading, though I do not reject the other. The probability is, that he was informing the Jews on the other side of the sea of what they did not know. Now, if this Timothy was the renowned companion of Paul, which I am inclined to think, it is very probable that either Luke or Clement was the author of this Epistle. Paul, indeed, more usually calls him his son; and then what immediately follows does not apply to Paul; for it appears that the writer was at liberty and at his own disposal; and besides, that he was then anywhere rather than at Rome; nay, it is very probable, that he was going round through various cities, and was then preparing to pass over the sea. Now all these particulars might have been suitable to the circumstances either of Luke or of Clement after the death of Paul.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(23) It is clear that the Hebrew Christians knew of the imprisonment of Timothy, but had not heard the news of his release. In 2Co_1:1; Col_1:1; Phm_1:1, Timothy is spoken of as “the brother;” in 1Th_3:2, and here, as “our brother” (for the word “our” printed in italics in the Authorised version, belongs to the true text). With him, the writer adds, “if he come shortly [sooner than the date at which he himself must depart], I will see you.”

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

23. Know ye] Or perhaps “Ye know,” or “know.”

is set at liberty] The word probably means (as in Act_3:13; Act_4:21) “has been set free from prison.” It is intrinsically likely that Timothy at once obeyed the earnest and repeated entreaty of St Paul, shortly before his martyrdom, to come to him at Rome (2Ti_4:9; 2Ti_4:21), and that, arriving before the Neronian persecution had spent its force, he had been thrown into prison. His comparative youth, and the unoffending gentleness of his character, together with the absence of any definite charge against him, may have led to his liberation. All this however is nothing more than reasonable conjecture. The word apolelumenos may mean no more than official, or even ordinary, “sending forth” on some mission or otherwise, as in Act_13:3; Act_15:30; Act_19:41; Act_23:22.

if he come shortly, I will see you] Lit. “if he come sooner,” i.e. earlier than I now expect (comp. κάλλιον, Act_25:10; βέλτιον, 2Ti_1:18).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty,.... This is the same person to whom the Apostle Paul wrote two epistles, and whom he often calls his son, though sometimes his brother, as here, Col 1:1 of him he says, that he was set at liberty, or "dismissed"; either by the apostle, by whom he was sent into some parts, upon some business; or rather was loosed from his bonds, having been a prisoner for the sake of Christ and the Gospel; and, it may be; a fellow prisoner with the apostle, at Rome, as Aristarchus and others were; and this very great and useful person being known, very likely, to the Hebrews, since his mother was a Jewess, and he himself was well reported of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium, Act 16:1 it was a piece of good news to them to hear of his release:

with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you; by which it seems that Timothy was now absent from the apostle, but that he expected him to come in a short time; when, if he should, they would both come together, and visit the Hebrews; which looks as if the apostle was at liberty himself, or at least had some hopes of his deliverance from prison; but whether he ever had his liberty after this, and saw the Hebrews any more, cannot be said; the contrary seems most probable.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

Ver. 23. Know ye that our brother] Good news should be spread abroad, and are a fit matter for Christian epistles, as one well observeth from these words.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty - Or, is sent away. So it is rendered by Prof. Stuart and others. On the meaning of this, and its importance in determining who was the author of the Epistle, see the Introduction section 3, (5) 4, and Prof. Stuart’s Introduction, section 19. This is a strong circumstance showing that Paul was the author of the Epistle, for from the first acquaintance of Timothy with Paul he is represented as his constant companion, and spoken of as a brother; 2Co 1:1 note; Phi 1:1 note; Col 1:1 note; Phil. 1 note. There is no other one of the apostles who would so naturally have used this term respecting Timothy, and this kind mention is made of him here because he was so dear to the heart of the writer, and because he felt that they to whom he wrote would also feel an interest in his circumstances. As to the meaning of the word rendered “set at liberty” - ἀπολελυμένον apolelumenon - there has been much difference of opinion whether it means “set at liberty from confinement,” or, “sent away on some message to some other place.” That the latter is the meaning of the expression appears probable from these considerations.

(1) The connection seems to demand it. The writer speaks of him as if he were now away, and as if he hoped that he might soon return. “With whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.” This is language which would be used rather of one who had been sent on some embassy than of one who was just released from prison. At all events, he was at this time away, and there was some expectation that he might soon return. But on the supposition that the expression relates to release from imprisonment, there would be an entire incongruity in the language. It is not, as we should then suppose, “our brother Timothy is now released from prison, and therefore I will come soon with him and see you;” but, “our brother Timothy is now sent away, and if he return soon I will come with him to you.”

(2) In Phi 2:19, Phi 2:23, Paul, then a prisoner at Rome, speaks of the hope which he entertained that he would be able to send Timothy to them as soon as he should know how it would go with him. He designed to retain him until that point was settled, as his presence with him would be important until then, and then to send him to give consolation to the Philippians, and to look into the condition of the church. Now the passage before us agrees well with the supposition that that event had occurred - that Paul had ascertained with sufficient clearness that he would be released, so that he might be permitted yet to visit the Hebrew Christians, that he had sent Timothy to Philippi and was waiting for his return; that as soon as he should return he would be prepared to visit them; and that in the mean time while Timothy was absent, he wrote to them this Epistle.

(3) The supposition agrees well with the meaning of the word used here - ἀπολύω apoluō. It denotes properly, to let loose from: to loosen; to unbind; to release; to let go free; to put away or divorce; to dismiss simply, or let go, or send away; see Mat 14:15, Mat 14:22-23; Mat 15:32, Mat 15:39; Luk 9:12, et al.; compare Robinson’s Lexicon and Stuart’s Introduction, section 19. The meaning, then, I take to be this, that Timothy was then sent away on some important embassage; that the apostle expected his speedy return; and that then he trusted that he would be able with him to visit those to whom this Epistle was written.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Our brother, Timothy, is set at liberty. From which we may conjecture that Timothy had been a prisoner, though it is not known where, nor on what occasion. (Witham)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

He acquaints them with the good news of his dismissing Timothy to them, to acquaint them how it fared with him, as he dismissed and sent Tychicus to the Colossians, Col 4:7,8, Epaphroditus to the Philippians, Phi 2:25,28, as he intended to have sent Timothy with them, Heb 13:19,23,24, but he stopped him to see the issue of his appearance before Nero Caesar; which being over, he despatched him with an account of it to these Hebrews, and the rest of the churches, and signifieth his purpose, that if he quickly returns from them again, then he would visit them together with him. That the word απολελυμενος noteth, or signifieth, the dismission of a person about business, is seen, Act 13:3. To which interpretation the subscription of the Epistle inclines; and the Scripture is silent of any troubles or restraint of Timothy at all, Phi 2:19,20.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

23. Know ye—The Greek form may be either indicative or imperative. But it is clear that our writer introduces this remark here to inform the Hebrews that he hopes that Timothy will visit them with himself, and that requires the imperative. The words are very conclusive proof that the writer is Paul. For, 1. They accord with the relations of Paul with Timothy, appearing in every mention of Timothy, and with no other. 2. The terms in which Timothy is mentioned as ο αδελφος, “the brother,” are precisely the terms in which Timothy is designated in 2Co_1:1; Col_1:1; 1Th_3:2; and Phm_1:1. The words is set at liberty, Delitzsch acknowledges are as well rendered sent on an official mission, (Act_13:3; Act_15:30;) and what that mission was we learn from Php_2:19 : “I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you.” This was written shortly before the epistle to the Hebrews, and fits with our present text so perfectly as to form a strong probability of unity. 3. If Timothy returns soon enough for Paul’s visit to the Hebrews, then they will come together; if not, Paul comes alone. Delitzsch says, that there is no apparent subordination of Timothy here; but assuredly there is. Paul’s visit to them is the main fact, Timothy’s is the incidental. Timothy is as subordinate in being an attendant on Paul’s visit, as he is in being sent on a mission by Paul to Philippi. 4. The words in regard to Timothy’s quick return curiously correspond with Paul’s words in Php_2:19; Php_2:24, where the same Greek word for shortly is used. In all this is an accumulation of coincidences not to be set aside.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. This allusion to Timothy shows that the Epistle, whatever its exact date, was at any rate written in the apostolic age, before his death. Further, though not proving St. Paul"s authorship, it supports the conclusion that the writer, if not himself, was one of his associates, Timothy having been peculiarly his disciple and companion. It seems that Timothy had been, as the readers were aware, in prison; and the joyful news is communicated of his release, and of the prospect of his visiting them. This again shows that the Epistle was addressed to a definite circle of readers. It is observable that the word apoluesyai , which does not occur in St. Paul"s writings, is, like so many expressions throughout the Epistle, one usual with St. Luke. (Luk_22:68 Luk_23:16, etc.; Act_3:13 Act_4:21; where it expresses release from prison or captivity) He uses it also for dismissal of persons on a mission; (Act_13:3 Act_15:30) and hence one view is that Timothy"s having already set out to visit the Church addressed is all that is here meant. But the other meaning of the word is more likely.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

If he come - To me.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

23. Our brother Timothy is set at liberty. How intimately Timothy was associated with Paul all his epistles show. Timothy too joined him at Rome during his imprisonment. This language implies that Timothy had been arrested and afterwards set free. Of this imprisonment, or just where it occurred, there is no other history.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

23. γινώσκετε. Either “ye are aware”; or “know ye,” i.e. let me inform you.

ἀπολελυμένον. The word probably means (as in Act 3:13; Act 4:21) “has been set free from prison.” It is intrinsically likely that Timothy at once obeyed the earnest and repeated entreaty of St Paul, shortly before his martyrdom, to come to him at Rome (2Ti 4:9; 2Ti 4:21), and that, arriving before the Neronian persecution had spent its last force, he had been thrown into prison. His comparative youth, and the unoffending gentleness of his character, together with the absence of any definite charge against him, may have led to his liberation. All this however is nothing more than reasonable conjecture. The word ἀπολελυμένον may mean no more than official, or even ordinary, “sending forth” on some mission or otherwise, as in Act 13:3; Act 15:30; Act 19:41; Act 23:22.

τάχιον. Lit., “if he come sooner,” i.e. earlier than I now expect (comp. κάλλιον, Act 25:10; βέλτιον, 2Ti 1:18). This again is an allusion to circumstances unknown to us. Böhme said “non est comparativa stricte intellegenda,” but it always refers to some special fact. Comp. Joh 13:27.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

23.] Know (γινώσκετε can hardly but be imperative, standing as it does at the beginning of the sentence. In τὴν δὲ δοκιμὴν αὐτοῦ γινώσκετε, Php 2:22, it is otherwise arranged. When the knowledge already exists, the fact is the prominent thing: when the knowledge is first conveyed, the information) that our brother Timotheus is dismissed (the construction is good Greek: Del. gives as instances ἤκουσε τὴν χώραν δῃουμένην, Xen. Anab. v. 5. 7: πυθόμενοι βασιλέα τεθνηκότα, Thuc. iv. 50: γνῶτε ἀναγκαῖον ὂν ὑμῖν ἀνδράσιν ἀγαθοῖ γενέσθαι, ib. vii. 77. It is in fact the original government of the accus. and inf. with a participial predicate substituted for the infinitive: ‘Know him being,’ for ‘know him to be.’ ἀπολύειν, on which see Prolegg. § ii. 24, does not occur in St. Paul, but is frequent in St. Luke; e. g. Luk 22:68; Luk 23:16 ff.: Act 3:13; Act 4:21, of dismissal from prison or custody; Act 13:3; Act 15:30, of official sending away; Act 15:33, of solemn dismissal, and Act 19:41; Act 23:22, of simple dismissal), with whom, if he come (πρός με … εἰκὸς γὰρ ἦν, ἀπολελύσθαι μὲν αὐτόν, μήπω δὲ ἀπεληλυθέναι πρὸς τὸν Παῦλον. Œc.) soon (Luther, Schulz, al. take this in the Attic sense of ἐὰν θᾶττον or ἐπειδὰν θᾶττον, “as soon as,” “simul atque:” but such can hardly be the sense here), I will see you (πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐρχόμενος. Œc.).

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Our brother Timothy [τον αδελφον ημων τιμοθεον] . Paul 's habit, when using oJ aJudelfov brother with a proper name, is to put the proper name first. See Rom 16:23; 1Co 1:1; 1Co 16:12; 2Co 1:1; 2Co 2:13; Phi 2:25.

Set at liberty [απολελυμενον] . Nothing is known of the fact referred to. Apoluein of releasing from confinement, Mt 27:15; Joh 19:10; Act 3:13; Act 4:21, 23; Act 5:40.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

23. γινώσκετε] The order, no less than the genornl scopo of tho vorso, sooms to shew that tho vorb is imporative: Know ye, that our brother Timothy has been discharged (ἀπολελυμένον, Vulg. dimissum), that is discharged from confinement (Acts xvi. 35 f.), or more generally set free from the charge laid against him (Acts iii. 13; xxvi. 32). It can cause no surprise that the details of this fact are wholly unknown.

τὸν ad. 4p. Te.) The order which St Paul adopts invariably is [Τιμ.] ὁ 1 Cor. xvi. 12; (2 Cor. i. 1); fi. 13; Phil. ii. 25; (Col. i. 1); iv. 7; 1 Thess. iii. 2; (Philem 1).

ἐὰν τάχειον...] Vulg. si celerius.... The comparative suggests the occurrence of hindrances which the Apostle could not distinctly foresee. Compare Ὁ. 19.

ii, 17; iii. 6, 10; 2 Tim. i. 4; 3 John 14.

Brooke Foss Westcott (1825–1901), The Epistle to the Hebrews (1889) and The Epistles of St John (1883) — public domain (pre-1929). Text recovered from Internet Archive / Google Books OCR scans. Westcott’s Gospel of John commentary is not included (its OCR lost the chapter running-heads required for reliable verse-keying). Some Greek quoted in the Hebrews volume is imperfectly rendered by the OCR.