This letter to the church, in what is now Western Turkey, had to be delivered. There was no reliable postal service, no electronic communication, only couriers. Although some would have made it their trade to take letters for people they did not know, Paul's message was so precious he sent it with a personal courier, Tychicus. Whenever possible, the apostolic team did not travel alone (Jesus sent them out in pairs); so Onesimus went as well. Both of them had very different backgrounds, but both were described as 'faithful'