2 Timothy 4:20
in 2 Timothy 4Erastus has remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Erastus remained at Corinth: but Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.
KJV
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
⋯
This verse in 2 Timothy 4
Commentary
8 notes on this verseErastus abode at Corinth,.... He was chamberlain of that city, Rom 16:23 who being sent along with Timothy into Macedonia, Act 19:22 very probably went from thence into Achaia, to Corinth, his native place, where he stayed. But Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Trophimus was an Asian, of the city of Ephesus, the same that is spoken of in Act 20:4. Some say he suffered martyrdom the same day the Apostle Paul did; but others say, that after that time he was bishop of Arles in France.
This site's exposition
Salute Prisca and Aquila
on 2 Timothy 4:19-22
The last greetings are history: Prisca and Aquila, the tentmaking couple of Corinth and Ephesus, still serving; the household of Onesiphorus, greeted as a household as in 1:16; Erastus at Corinth, Trophimus left at Miletum sick, an apostle's companion sick and left so, the text recording it without embarrassment. Do thy diligence to come before winter, when the seas closed and the dungeon chilled, the cloke of verse 13 waiting on the sailing season. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia send greetings, Linus by early tradition the Roman church's next overseer, and the last written words of Paul are a benediction, the Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit, grace be with you.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick." This Trophimus and Tychicus, we know from the book of the Acts, sailed away with him from Judea, and were everywhere his companions, perhaps as being more zealous than the rest. "Trophimus I have left at Miletum sick." Why then didst thou not heal him, instead of leaving him? The Apostles could not do everything, or they did not dispense miraculous gifts upon all occasions, lest more should be ascribed to them than was right.
Erastus stayed in Corinth. Since Paul did not remember these things before, now he remembers, in order to show that he is isolated on all sides and needs Timothy. I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Miletus is near Ephesus. Therefore, when he sailed to Judea, …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Since the apostle had not mentioned them, he now mentions them and shows that he has been abandoned by everyone, thereby urging Timothy to come to him more quickly. Why did the apostle not heal the sick Trophimus? Because the saints cannot do everything, for …
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Erastus abode at Corinth - He was treasurer of that city, as we learn from Rom 16:23 (note). The apostle had sent him and Timothy on a mission to Macedonia, Act 19:22, whence it is probable he returned to Corinth, and there became finally settled. Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick - Even the apostles could not work miracles when they pleased; that power was but rarely given, and that for very special purposes. Trophimus was an Ephesian. See Act 20:4, and the note there.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
As Miletus was near Ephesus, there is a presumption that Timothy was not at Ephesus when Paul wrote, or he would not need to inform Timothy of Trophimus lying sick in his immediate neighborhood.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Erastus - see the notes on Rom 16:23. Abode at Corinth - This was his home, where he filled an important office; see the notes at Rom 16:23. It would seem that when Paul went to Rome, there was some expectation that he would accompany him, but that reasons had occurred for his remaining in Corinth. His doing so is referred to without blame. But Trophimus - see Act 20:4. He was a native of Asia Minor. Have I left at Miletum sick - Probably he designed to accompany him to Rome, as he had been often with him in his journeys. On the situation of Miletus, or Miletum, see the notes on Act 20:15.
The words behind it
10 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἔραστος | erastos | Erastus | G2037 → | |
| ἔμεινεν | emeinen | remained | G3306 → | 118 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Κορίνθῳ· | korintho | Corinth; | G2882 → | |
| Τρόφιμον | trophimon | Trophimus | G5161 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἀπέλιπον | apelipon | I left | G620 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Μιλήτῳ | mileto | Miletus | G3399 → | |
| ἀσθενοῦντα.¶ | asthenounta | ailing. | G770 → |
ἜραστοςErastus
erastosG2037 →
ἔμεινενremained
emeinenG3306 →118 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
Κορίνθῳ·Corinth;
korinthoG2882 →
ΤρόφιμονTrophimus
trophimonG5161 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἀπέλιπονI left
apeliponG620 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ΜιλήτῳMiletus
miletoG3399 →
ἀσθενοῦντα.¶ailing.
asthenountaG770 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 20:4Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
it leads to
- Acts 19:29
Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 6:21
Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.
- 2 Timothy 4:12
Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus.
- Titus 3:12
As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.
- Colossians 4:7
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.
- Acts 19:29
Through
Acts 21:29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
it leads to
- Acts 20:4
Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 20:4
Through
Romans 16:23Gaius, who has hosted me and all the church, sends you greetings. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you greetings, as does our brother Quartus.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 1:14
I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
- Acts 19:22
He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.
- 1 Corinthians 1:14
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Timothy
Who and where
3 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonErastusThe city treasurer of Corinth who sent greetings in Romans (16:23) — possibly the official named in a Corinthian pavement inscript…
- PlaceAsia MinorMiletusThe port where Paul, hurrying to Jerusalem, summoned the Ephesian elders for the farewell address that is the only speech in Acts…
- PlaceAchaiaCorinthThe Greek port city from which Paul wrote Romans during his three-month stay, and home of the church of 1–2 Corinthians.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 2 Timothy 10; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Timothy.