Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
2 Timothy 4:20 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 20. 20Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse reports Erastus's location and Trophimus left sick at Miletus.
Read It With
- 2 Timothy 4:19–22
Read 2 Timothy 4:20 with 4:19–22. This verse reports Erastus's location and Trophimus left sick at Miletus. The complete unit establishes this movement: The writer greets Prisca, Aquila, and Onesiphorus's household, reports Erastus and Trophimus, urges Timothy to come before winter, passes greetings, and closes with the Lord's presence and grace for the community.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The close brings elevated hope back to travel, weather, illness, households, coworkers, and a communal blessing of grace. Within that movement, this verse reports Erastus's location and Trophimus left sick at Miletus.
Follow the Context
- Prisca, Aquila, and Onesiphorus's household receive greetings.
- Erastus remained at Corinth, and Trophimus was left sick at Miletus.
- Timothy is urged to come before winter.
- Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters send greetings.
- The Lord is invoked with Timothy's spirit.
- Grace is invoked with the plural community.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick”
In plain language: A valued coworker remains ill without blame or instant cure.
reports Erastus's location and Trophimus left sick at Miletus. Faithful people can remain sick and require ordinary care.
Why it matters: The wording carries interpretive or ethical risk that requires the full unit and its stated limits.
How certain? strongWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
The verse does not blame sickness on deficient faith or guarantee apostolic or modern healing.
What Remains True
Faithful people can remain sick and require ordinary care.
How It Can Shape Life
- Support illness with treatment, rest, and practical help without spiritual accusation.
Teach It Back
Explain 2 Timothy 4:20's contribution to 2 Timothy 4:19–22: reports Erastus's location and Trophimus left sick at Miletus. Include what the surrounding verses add, the stated uncertainty, and what this verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 2 Timothy 4:19–22 — Final Greetings Preserve Human Need and GraceSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 2 Timothy 4:19–22, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, morphology targets, and base text for original-language discussion.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/2Tim.txt, 4:19–22
Open the 2 Timothy Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 2 Timothy with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual alternatives, and interpretive notes.
Exact location: NET Bible official 2 Timothy PDF, 4:19–22 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 2 Timothy PDF ↗