2 Timothy 4 · Verse 20

2 Timothy 4:20

Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

2 Timothy 4:20, King James Version

2 Timothy 4:20 in other translations

BSB	Erastus has remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.
WEB	Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick.
ASV	Erastus remained at Corinth: but Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.
YLT	Erastus did remain in Corinth, and Trophimus I left in Miletus infirm;
DARBY	Erastus remained in Corinth, but Trophimus I left behind in Miletus sick.
BBE	Erastus was stopping at Corinth; but Trophimus, when I last saw him was at Miletus, ill.
Webster	Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus I have left at Miletum sick.

What does 2 Timothy 4:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

20. In order to depict his desertion, he informs Timothy that Erastus, one of his usual companions (Ac 19:22, possibly the same Erastus as in Ro 16:23, though how he could leave his official duties for missionary journeys is not clear), stayed behind at Corinth, his native place, or usual residence, of which city he was "chamberlain," or city steward and treasurer (Ro 16:23); and Trophimus he left behind at Miletus sick. (On his former history, see on Ac 20:4; Ac 21:29). This verse is irreconcilable with the imprisonment from which he writes being the first: for he did not pass by Corinth or Miletus on his way to Rome when about to be imprisoned for the first time. 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. However, Trophimus may not have been still at Miletus at the time when Paul wrote, though he had left him there on his way to Rome. Prisca and Aquila were most likely to be at Ephesus (2Ti 4:19), and he desires Timothy to salute them: so also Onesiphorus' household (2Ti 1:18). Paul had not the power of healing at will (Ac 19:12), but as the Lord allowed him.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 20. Erastus. Rom 16:23.

Abode at Corinth. This was his home, where he filled an important office. 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 Acts 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, Acts 20:15.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 20 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. Miletus was a maritime town of Ionia, not far from Ephesus; but there was another Miletus, in Crete, which some learned men think to be intended here. It appears that St. Paul went from Macedonia to Corinth, where he left Erastus; from Corinth he proceeded to Troas, where he lodged with Carpus: from Troas he went to Ephesus, where he visited Timothy; from Ephesus he went to Miletus, where he left Trophimus sick; and having embarked at Miletus, he went by sea to Rome. See Calmet. It is most likely, therefore, that the Miletus of Ionia is the place intended.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 4:19-22

We need no more to make us happy, than to have the Lord Jesus Christ with our spirits; for in him all spiritual blessings are summed up. It is the best prayer we can offer for our friends, that the Lord Jesus Christ may be with their spirits, to sanctify and save them, and at last to receive them to himself. Many who believed as Paul, are now before the throne, giving glory to their Lord: may we be followers of them.

Read the full comment on 2 Timothy 4:19-22 →

2 Timothy 4:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἜραστοςErastosErastusG2037

ἔμεινενemeinenremainedG3306

ἐνeninG1722

Κορίνθῳ·KorinthōCorinth;G2882

ΤρόφιμονTrophimonTrophimusG5161

δὲdehoweverG1161

ἀπέλιπονapeliponI leftG620

ἐνeninG1722

ΜιλήτῳMilētōMiletusG3399

ἀσθενοῦντα.¶asthenountaailing.G770

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Timothy 4:20

Acts 20:4
And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
Acts 19:22
So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
Philippians 2:26-27
For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
Acts 21:29
(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
Acts 20:15
And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
Romans 16:23
Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
Acts 20:17
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Erastus.
Ac 19:22; Ro 16:23
Trophimus.
Ac 20:4; 21:29
Miletum.
Ac 20:15,17
Miletus. sick.
Php 2:26,27

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Timothy 4:19
Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
2 Timothy 4:20
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
2 Timothy 4:21
Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.

Read all of 2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4:20 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Erasto se quedó en Corinto; y á Trófimo dejé en Mileto enfermo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Éraste est demeuré à Corinthe, et j’ai laissé Trophime malade à Milet.
German Elberfelder 1871	Erastus blieb in Korinth; Trophimus aber habe ich in Milet krank zurückgelassen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Erastus remansit Corinthi. Trophimum autem reliqui infirmum Mileti.