the shield of his protection over him, and avert the worst consequences of Philemon’s anger.” But to make assurance doubly sure Paul entrusts to Onesimus a letter to Philemon, that the apostle’s own words may add force to Tychicus’ work of reconciliation. On the Epistle to Philemon, see Appendix XV. But Paul gave still another commission to Tychicus. “The apostle wrote at this time a circular letter to the Asiatic churches, which got its ultimate designation from the metropolitan city, and is consequently