Hebrews 13:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It seems to me that the Hebrews were not hostile toward Timothy. Therefore Paul places him first. “Know that our brother Timothy has been released, and with him, if he comes soon, I will see you.” “Released,” he says. From where? I think he had been placed in prison. But if not, then “released” means from Athens, as this is narrated in Acts (Acts 17). “Know that our brother Timothy has been released, and with him, if he comes soon, I will see you.” This was enough for them to preserve meekness, since Paul himself was ready to come to them with his disciple.

"Know that our brother Timothy has been released." They were not especially hostile toward Timothy, and therefore he placed him first.

From where was he released? Either he had been in prison and was released, or he had been sent away from Athens, since he was there; compare Phil 2:19.

"With whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you." This was enough to persuade them to abandon hostility toward him, since he was ready to come with his disciple.

Perhaps this did happen, and he traveled to Judea from Rome. For the first time he was released by Nero, as we said in the introduction to this epistle.

By this the Apostle showed that he sent the epistle with Timothy. It was likely that they would rejoice in Timothy, since he too had been circumcised.

“Know that our brother Timothy has been released.” He has been released either in the sense that he had previously been bound, or simply released from Athens, since he was there. It appears that the Hebrews were not altogether hostile toward Timothy. “With whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.” “With whom I will see you” means that I will come to you together with him, if only he comes to me sooner. For although he had been released, he had not yet come to me. This too was enough to make them lessen their hostility toward him.

“Know that our brother Timothy has been released.” The Apostle intended to point to Timothy as his fellow-worker, in order to draw the attention of the Hebrews to him. Or better, by pointing to this person, he wanted to testify to his own zeal for the Law, because Timothy had been circumcised by Paul already in Christianity.

After this the Apostle concludes his epistle with a blessing. He asks the readers to receive his epistle favorably, informs them of his release from prison, άπο λελυμένον, compare Lk 22:68; 23:16 and following, greets the presiders and the whole flock, and adds that the Italian Christians send them greetings (vv. 22-25).

The expression, "God brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep," is formed according to the pattern of an expression found in the book of the prophet Isaiah (Isa 63:11), which refers to Moses.

The prophet Isaiah, speaking in the name of the Hebrew people, cries out to God: Where is He Who brought them up with the shepherd of His flock, Moses? Having this passage in mind, the Apostle calls Christ the great Shepherd.