2 Timothy 4.13-Paul Requests Timothy Bring to Rome with Him His Overcoat, Scrolls and Parchments
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday October 20, 2015
Second Timothy: Second Timothy 4:13-Paul Requests Timothy Bring to Rome with Him His Overcoat, Scrolls and Parchments
Lesson # 102
2 Timothy 4:9 Make every effort to come to me soon. 10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 12 But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. (NASB95)
“Bring” is the second person singular present active imperative form of the verb pherō (φέρω), which pertains to causing something to move from one place to another.
Here it speaks of Timothy bringing Paul’s cloak with him to Rome which he left with Carpus at Troas in the sense of Timothy transporting this cloak from Troas to Rome.
The imperative form of this verb is an imperative of request.
The idea with this type of imperative is that Paul is saying “please” Timothy bring the cloak to Rome with you which I left at Troas with Carpus when I was arrested.
“The cloak” is the articular accusative masculine singular form of the noun phailonēs (φαιλόνης), which pertains to an outer garment of some sort.
Specifically it refers to a heavier outer garment for protection in cold winter weather.
Here it refers to Paul cloak which served as protection from the winter cold.
The articular construction of this word functions as a possessive pronoun and should thus be translated “my” referring of course to Paul indicating that this cloak was Paul’s possession.
“Troas” is the dative feminine singular form of the proper name Trōas (Τρῳάς), which refers to a city and region in the northwest corner of the Roman province of Asia on the Aegean Sea which was near the city of Troy.
Today, this area is located in Turkey.
“Carpus” refers to a Christian from Troas who Paul was evidently staying with when he was arrested by the Roman authorities.
Thus, he appears to be a friend of Paul’s in whose care Paul had entrusted his books and parchments.
“The books” is the articular accusative neuter plural form of the noun biblion (βιβλίον), which means “scrolls” which were actually made of papyrus which was an inexpensive writing material in the first century A.D.
This word is a common word for books, writings or collections of writings such as in a library (TDNT 1:617-18).
It is used of secular writings such as the certificate of divorce (Matt. 19:7; Mark 10:4) and also of the writings of the Old Testament (Luke 4:17, 20; Gal. 3:10; Heb. 9:19; 10:17) and the New Testament (John 20:30; 21:25).
If Paul means codices, they would have served as notebooks.
“Especially the parchments” is composed of the following: (1) elative superlative adverb malista (μάλιστα), “especially” (2) articular feminine plural form of the noun membrana (μεμβράνα), “the parchments.”
The adverb malista functions as a superlative adverb meaning “especially” and is used to single out Paul’s parchments.
Thus, it indicates that how important or valuable his parchments were to him.
The noun membrana is also in the plural and means “parchments” since it pertains a writing material made of animal skins.
These were made of specially prepared animal skin on which one could write with pen and ink.
The noun membrana is actually a Latin load word for “parchment” which was a more expensive writing material in the first century A.D. than papyrus, capable of being reused and was more durable since it was made from skins of sheep and goats.
Second Timothy 4:13 When you inevitably come, please bring my overcoat which I left behind at Troas with Carpus and in addition my scrolls, especially my parchments. (My translation)
Second Timothy 4:13 marks a transition from a discussion of Paul and Timothy’s friends and fellow-workers for the gospel of Jesus Christ in Second Timothy 4:9-12 to a brief discussion regarding Paul’s needs.
He requests that Timothy would bring his overcoat and in addition his scrolls and especially his parchments.
Paul’s overcoat refers to a heavier outer garment which served as protection in cold winter weather.
He issues this request for his overcoat because winter is fast approaching as he mentions in Second Timothy 4:21 and he wants to be prepared.
Towner writes “This garment was a heavy circular-shaped cape, made from goat hair, hide, or coarse wool, for outer wear and especially important in the winter months. It was not a garment one took lightly, for it would have been relatively expensive, most men owning one such piece of clothing and it doubled as an outer protective covering for sleeping. A person such as Paul, accustomed to travel and to nights in unpredictable situations, would certainly regard this garment as an essential part of his kit, leading to his request to have it back by winter.”
Paul informs Timothy that these personal possessions he left with a Christian named Carpus in the city of Troas which refers to a city and region in the northwest corner of the Roman province of Asia on the Aegean Sea which was near the city of Troy.
Today, this area is located in Turkey.
It was the primary seaport in that area and was located approximately 10 miles south-southwest of Troy.
This city was established by the Seleucid king Antigonus in approximately 300 B.C. and who named it after himself.
However, its name was changed to Alexandria Troas in honor of Alexander the Great who had passed through it in pursuit of the Persians.
It became a Roman colony when Roman influence replaced that of the Greeks.
It is mentioned six times in the Greek New Testament (Acts 16:8, 11; 20:5-6; 2 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Timothy 4:13).
During the days of Paul, it was an important seaport because it was the easiest and shortest route from Asia to Europe.
The New Testament only mentions “Carpus” here in Second Timothy 4:13.
Thus, we know little about this man.
However, we can infer that he was obviously a Christian who demonstrated hospitality to the apostle Paul when he was arrested by the Roman authorities since his overcoat, scrolls and parchments were left with this man when he was arrested.
He thus appears to be a friend of Paul’s in whose care Paul had entrusted his expensive winter overcoat, scrolls and parchments.
These “scrolls” were actually made of papyrus which was an inexpensive writing material in the first century A.D.
If Paul means codices, they would have served as notebooks.
The “parchments” pertain to a writing material made of animal skins.
These made of specially prepared animal skin on which one could write with pen and ink.
They were a more expensive writing material in the first century A.D. than papyrus, capable of being reused and was more durable since it was made from skins of sheep and goats.
Paul’s request for his scrolls and parchments indicates obviously that he wanted to continue writing while imprisoned and also that he wanted to study his Old Testament.
Therefore, this request indicates that Paul was a man of letters who was devoted to the study of the Scriptures.
As Towner writes “Paul was the model of a scholar of the Scriptures and a model of simplicity of lifestyle and self-sufficiency.”
