Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

2 Timothy 4:20

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick." This Trophimus and Tychicus, we know from the book of the Acts, sailed away with him from Judea, and were everywhere his companions, perhaps as being more zealous than the rest. "Trophimus I have left at Miletum sick." Why then didst thou not heal him, instead of leaving him? The Apostles could not do everything, or they did not dispense miraculous gifts upon all occasions, lest more should be ascribed to them than was right.

Homily on 2 Timothy 10 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Since the apostle had not mentioned them, he now mentions them and shows that he has been abandoned by everyone, thereby urging Timothy to come to him more quickly. Why did the apostle not heal the sick Trophimus? Because the saints cannot do everything, for this is God's prerogative, so that people would not deify them. So too Moses, tongue-tied from childhood, did not heal himself and did not enter the promised land, lest they regard him as God. So too Paul himself had a severe illness. Miletus is near Ephesus. …

Commentary on 2 Timothy ↗

Oecumenius

Erastus stayed in Corinth. Since Paul did not remember these things before, now he remembers, in order to show that he is isolated on all sides and needs Timothy. I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Miletus is near Ephesus. Therefore, when he sailed to Judea, Paul left him in Miletus, or after arriving in Rome, again in these parts, we do not have information to say. sick. Why then did he not heal him, but let him be? Because the saints did not do everything, so that they would not be considered better than human nature.

Commentary On 2 Timothy ↗