Only Luke is with me. Take along Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
Parallel translations
- WEB Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
- KJV Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
- BSB Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.
- NKJV Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
- NLT Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul notes that only Luke remains with him and asks Timothy to bring Mark, who is now useful for ministry. It shows both Paul's human need for companionship and the grace of restoration after past failure.
Overview
Luke, the beloved physician and author of the Gospel and Acts, stays faithfully at Paul's side. Strikingly, Paul asks for Mark, the same John Mark whose earlier desertion had caused a sharp split with Barnabas (Acts 15:37-39); now Mark is 'useful for service,' a testimony to reconciliation and growth in grace. This verse displays the gospel's power to mend broken relationships and restore those who once failed. It also reveals Paul's reliance on a body of fellow workers rather than solitary strength.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Acts 12:12Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
- Acts 12:25Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.
- Phlm 1:24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
- Col 4:14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.
- 2 Tim 1:15This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
- Col 4:10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”),
- Acts 15:39Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus,
- 1 Pet 5:13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you; and so does Mark, my son.
- Matt 19:30But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.
- Hos 14:4“I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from him.
- Luke 13:30Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.”
- Acts 16:10When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go out to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the Good News to them.
- Matt 20:16So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ Jesus 'abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' — the risen Lord whose word and kingdom endure to the end.
How 2 Timothy 4:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.