Send forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollo, with care that nothing be wanting to them.
ζηναν τον νομικον και απολλω σπουδαιως προπεμψον ινα μηδεν αυτοις λειπη
8 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Regions had not yet been entrusted to them, but they were among Paul’s companions. Apollos was especially powerful, a man skilled in the Scriptures and eloquent (Acts 18:24). But, you say, if Zenas was a lawyer, he should not have been supported at others’ expense. Here he calls him a lawyer as one experienced in the Jewish laws, and he says, as it were: provide them with every sufficiency, so that they may lack nothing.
He calls by this name a man experienced in the Jewish laws. Such was Zenas. Apollos also was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures. Churches had not yet been entrusted to them. “That they may lack nothing” means: take care that they have in abundance everything necessary, namely food and clothing.
“Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way quickly, and see that they lack nothing.” Strive to send them to me quickly, supplying them with everything needed for the journey, so that they lack none of the necessities. Zenas was a lawyer because he was very knowledgeable in the Jewish Law.
“Zenas the lawyer.” Probably Zenas and Apollos had been left in Crete together with Titus. The Apostle now requires them to come to him. Zenas is called a lawyer probably because he was skilled in the Law of Moses. Nothing more is known about him.
The afterword contains the Apostle’s instructions: concerning Titus’s arrival to him in Nicopolis, concerning Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, and the concluding greetings.
The postscript begins with instructions concerning persons. The Apostle commands Titus to hasten to him, but not before Artemas or Tychicus, sent by the Apostle, comes to him.
Before this, Zenas and Apollos must be sent out for the work of preaching. The Apostle advises that they be supplied sufficiently with everything necessary for their great journey by sea and land.
All the persons mentioned here were, in different degrees, fellow workers of Paul. Some he had with him in Cilician Nicopolis. Others he wished to see in order to guide them, namely Zenas and Apollos.
For the same purpose he summoned Titus, after instructing Artemas and Tychicus in what they could temporarily do in Crete in place of Titus.
The Apostle needed to see Titus, especially to discern the character of the false teachers and to indicate measures of opposition to them. He also wished to hear about the impression made by the epistle.
Tychicus was sent by the Apostle to Ephesus and Colossae with epistles (Eph 6:21; Col 4:6), and also with the Second Epistle to Timothy (4:12). Later he was bishop in Bithynia.
According to tradition, Artemas was also later bishop in Lystra. His commemoration is on October 30, together with the other Seventy Apostles.
Apollos, famous for his eloquence, was bishop in Corinth, where even when the Church was being founded there, he had many admirers (1 Cor 3:5; 4:6). His commemoration is on September 10 and December 3.
Zenas shepherded the Church of Christ in Diospolis. His commemoration is on September 27. He too is numbered among the Seventy Apostles.
He is called a lawyer because he was knowledgeable in the Law and explained it properly.
From the Apostle's instructions, blessed Jerome wrote, "his fatherly love for the Cretans is evident."
"The Apostle needed to see Titus concerning the work of the Gospel preaching. Yet he commands him not to set out for him before Tychicus or Artemas arrives to take his place.
"Or they would take the place of Zenas and Apollos, whom the Apostle asks him to send to him quickly, immediately upon receiving his epistle" (Bishop Theophan).
The Apostle concludes his Epistle with instructions to Titus and greetings to him from his fellow workers (vv. 12-15). Zenas the lawyer (nomikos), mentioned here, had probably been occupied with the study of the Law of Moses before his conversion to Christ.
Zenas the lawyer is mentioned only here. Because he had studied the Law well and knew it, he received this title. It remained with him even after his conversion.
Apollos was a well-known knower of Scripture, a man mighty in speech. They had not yet received particular dioceses to govern, but were fellow workers of the Apostle Paul (see Saint Chrysostom and others).
Concerning them Saint Paul writes: "Send them forward quickly."
"Send forward," πρόπεμψον, means either accompany them farther quickly, or send them to me quickly before yourself, without waiting until I summon you.
Saint Paul had already used this word in both senses. In the first sense, when he hoped to be accompanied by the Romans to Spain (see Rom 15:24).
In the second, when he wrote to the Corinthians to send Saint Timothy to him in peace (see 1 Cor 16:11).
In the first case we get this thought: Zenas and Apollos were with Saint Paul. Needing to send them somewhere for the work of preaching, perhaps to Achaia, he directed them there through Crete because of circumstances.
He writes to Titus that he should not detain them, but conduct them farther quickly, supplying them with everything necessary.
In this case one may suppose that the Epistle to Titus was sent with them, or that they were sent with the bearer of the epistle.
Perhaps this epistle was even written because they were being directed by this route.
In the second case, the thought is this: Zenas and Apollos were in Crete and labored there in the preaching of the Gospel even before Saint Paul passed through and arrived there.
When Saint Paul departed from Crete, he left them there to continue the work of preaching together with Titus.
Now, however, needing them for the same work of preaching in the region where he himself was, he writes to Titus to send them to him quickly, before Titus himself is summoned.
This was to be done immediately upon receiving this epistle.
"And let nothing be lacking to them." Supply them with everything necessary: food, clothing, and a certain sum of money for travel expenses (see blessed Jerome, Oecumenius, and blessed Theophylact), so that they have no lack in anything.
Zenas shepherded the Church of Christ in Diospolis. His commemoration is September 27. He is numbered among the Seventy.
Apollos, according to Jerome, was bishop in Corinth. But the calendars write that he was bishop in Smyrna before Saint Polycarp. He is numbered among the Seventy. His commemoration is September 10 and December 8.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 11 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS