2 Timothy 4:20 kjv
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
2 Timothy 4:20 nkjv
Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
2 Timothy 4:20 niv
Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.
2 Timothy 4:20 esv
Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.
2 Timothy 4:20 nlt
Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.
2 Timothy 4 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 15:4 | Abide in me, and I in you. | Christ's command to remain |
| Acts 14:22 | strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith | exhortation to faithfulness |
| Romans 11:22 | So observe the kindness and the severity of God; on those who fell, severity, but on you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness. | condition for continuity |
| 1 Cor 15:1-2 | Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. | importance of holding fast |
| Col 1:23 | if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven | remaining steadfast |
| Heb 3:14 | For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end | assurance through endurance |
| Rev 2:10 | Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. | reward for faithfulness |
| Ps 37:24 | Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; | God's sustaining power |
| Prov 24:16 | For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, | resilience of the righteous |
| Gal 6:9 | And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. | perseverance in good deeds |
| 2 Tim 2:2 | And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. | passing on faith to others |
| 1 Tim 6:20 | O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings and contradictions of so-called knowledge— | guarding the deposit |
| Phil 1:6 | being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. | God's work in believers |
| Jude 1:3 | Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. | contend for the faith |
| Matt 24:13 | But he who endures to the end shall be saved. | enduring to the end |
| 1 Thess 5:11 | Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. | mutual encouragement |
| 2 Thess 3:3 | But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. | Lord's faithfulness |
| Acts 20:24 | But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. | finishing the ministry |
| John 14:16 | And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— | the Holy Spirit's presence |
| 1 John 4:16 | And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. | abiding in love |
2 Timothy 4 verses
2 Timothy 4 20 Meaning
To remain is to stay in a particular place, continuing to exist or abide. In this context, Paul the apostle, in his final epistle, expresses his hope and desire for Timothy to continue in his ministry, his faith, and his faithfulness to Christ. It speaks to perseverance and steadfastness in the face of trials and persecutions.
2 Timothy 4 20 Context
Second Timothy 4:20 concludes Paul’s final letter, written from a Roman prison just before his execution. He is instructing Timothy, his protégé, to carry on the ministry and to remain steadfast in the Gospel, even amidst growing apostasy and opposition. The immediate context involves Paul dealing with the betrayal of some companions and offering a brief account of where various individuals were or had gone. He is summing up his ministry and preparing for his departure, entrusting the continuation of the work to Timothy. This verse specifically mentions Erastus remaining in Corinth and Trophimus being left ill in Miletus. The overarching theme of the chapter, and indeed much of Paul’s later epistles, is the call to faithfulness, endurance, and the guarding of sound doctrine.
2 Timothy 4 20 Word Analysis
- Erastus: (Greek: Ἐραστός, Erastos). Means "beloved" or "lovely." He is identified in the New Testament as the "city treasurer" (oikonomos tes poleos) of Corinth, and a "brother" (adelphos) who was a believer. His presence in Corinth indicates the Gospel had reached influential circles.
- remained: (Greek: παραμένω, paramenō). This is a compound verb formed from "para" (alongside, beside) and "menō" (to remain, abide, stay). It signifies to remain by or near, to continue, to persist, to persevere, or to be steadfast. In this instance, it denotes Erastus' decision to stay in Corinth for his ministry or business.
- in Corinth: (Greek: ἐν Κορίνθῳ, en Korinthō). Corinth was a prominent and wealthy Roman colony in Achaia, known for its strategic location connecting the Peloponnese and central Greece. It was a center of trade and culture, but also notorious for its paganism and moral decadence, making it a challenging but significant place for the Gospel.
- and Trophimus: (Greek: καὶ Τρόφιμον, kai Trophimon). Trophimus was a disciple from Ephesus, a Gentile whom Paul had taken with him on his journeys and whom some false brethren falsely accused Paul of bringing into the temple area in Jerusalem (Acts 21:29). This shows the breadth of Paul's ministry among both Jews and Gentiles.
- have I left: (Greek: ἀφῆκα, aphēka). From aphistēmi, meaning to send away, to leave behind, to depart from. It conveys Paul's action of leaving Trophimus behind because of his illness.
- ill: (Greek: ἀσθενοῦντα, asthenounta). Present participle of astheneō, meaning to be weak, infirm, or sick. It indicates Trophimus was suffering from an illness.
- in Miletus: (Greek: ἐν Μιλήτῳ, en Milētō). Miletus was a port city on the coast of Ionia, near Ephesus. Paul had a significant encounter with the Ephesian elders there in Acts 20, during which he famously warned them about wolves entering the flock. Paul’s being in Miletus and leaving Trophimus there underscores the reality of travel and ministry challenges.
2 Timothy 4 20 Bonus Section
The verse demonstrates Paul's pastoral care and reliance on God even in his personal circumstances. Erastus' decision to stay in Corinth could be seen as a form of "remaining" in his sphere of influence for Christ. Trophimus' illness, while a personal difficulty, also reflects the shared sufferings of believers in that era. The presence of both a Jewish (implied by Paul's own identity and his previous activities in Jerusalem) and a Gentile companion (Trophimus) highlights the unifying power of the Gospel, breaking down ethnic and cultural barriers. The specific locations mentioned—Corinth and Miletus—were places of Paul's significant ministry, reinforcing the continuity of the work being passed on.
2 Timothy 4 20 Commentary
Paul, facing imminent death, shares brief personal updates. Erastus, a man of civic standing, chose to remain in Corinth, likely continuing his work or ministry there. Trophimus, a trusted companion, was left behind in Miletus due to illness. These personal details humanize Paul's situation and illustrate the practicalities of ministry even in difficult times. They also show Paul's strategic thinking, entrusting tasks and dealing with circumstances as they arise, all while remaining focused on the larger mission. Despite these apparent setbacks or normal life occurrences, the core message for Timothy, and the church, is one of unwavering faithfulness and perseverance in the Gospel.