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The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
2 Timothy 4:13 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come, and the books, especially the parchments.
  • BSB When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
  • NKJV Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.
  • NASB When you come, bring the overcoat which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.
  • NLT When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers.

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 asks Timothy to bring his cloak left at Troas, along with his books and especially the parchments. The small, personal request reveals Paul's continued study and his very human needs even in prison.

Overview

Facing a cold prison and approaching winter (v. 21), Paul wants his cloak for warmth, a touchingly ordinary detail from an apostle awaiting death. His desire for the 'books, especially the parchments'—likely scrolls and possibly portions of Scripture—shows a lifelong devotion to the written word even at the end. Faithful Christians have long seen here a model of the Spirit-filled mind that keeps studying and treasuring Scripture to the last. The verse grounds Paul's lofty teaching in real flesh-and-blood circumstances.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 5

  • Acts 16:8And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
  • Acts 16:11Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
  • 2 Cor 11:27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
  • 1 Cor 4:11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
  • Acts 20:5–12These going before tarried for us at Troas.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Timothy videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Timothy 4:13YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 TimothyMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 4:13 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.