When you come, bring the overcoat which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.
Parallel translations
- WEB Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come, and the books, especially the parchments.
- KJV The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but 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.
- 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 16:8Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
- Acts 16:11Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;
- 2 Cor 11:27in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.
- 1 Cor 4:11Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.
- Acts 20:5–12But these had gone ahead, and were waiting for us at Troas.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.