Limitless Word
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
2 Timothy 4:20 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick.
  • BSB Erastus has remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.
  • NKJV Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
  • NASB Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.
  • NLT Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.

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 Erastus stayed in Corinth and that he left Trophimus sick at Miletus. The detail shows that even amid apostolic ministry, illness and ordinary circumstances were not always removed.

Overview

These brief travel notes mention two associates: Erastus, possibly the Corinthian official of Romans 16:23, and Trophimus, an Ephesian companion (Acts 20:4; 21:29) now left behind because of sickness. Notably, Paul, through whom God had worked healings, did not or could not heal Trophimus here, a reminder that physical healing is according to God's will and timing, not automatic. The verse keeps Paul's experience earthbound and honest, resisting any triumphalism about the Christian life. God's purposes are served even through unhealed weakness.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 7

  • Acts 20:4And 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 19:22So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
  • 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.)
  • Phil 2:26–27For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
  • Acts 20:15And 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.
  • Rom 16:23Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
  • Acts 20:17And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

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 4:20YouTube · 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 4:20 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.