Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 50

Paul's Personal Instructions to Timothy Part 2

2 Timothy 4:13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. KJV

Paul wanted to remind Timothy to bring a few of important items that belonged to Paul with him on his journey to Rome to be with the Apostle there and they are as he wrote with these words, "The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments." (2 Timothy 4:13) (KJV). The English word 'cloke' is not one we use at all during our present era and time, but it is translated by the Greek word phelonēs (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning (as showing outside the other garments); a mantle (surtout, that is, A man's overcoat in the style of a frock coat): - cloke. Either the toga, which belonged to him as a Roman citizen, or an upper garment, which might be needful as winter came on. In other words, again we find Paul to be just a man like any of us today who would want every thing he had available to him to keep himself warmer during the colder days he had to spend in that dungeon before his execution. Paul had left that cloke or coat in the city of Troas with another Christian named Carpus where he had spent seven days there on perhaps his last visit to the city (for this city is not mentioned again in the Book of Acts as a place Paul went to or through) as documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "And Sopater of Berea accompanied him into Asia, and Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus as far as Asia. Going before, these waited for us at Troas. And after the days of Unleavened Bread, we sailed away from Philippi and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days." (Acts 20:4-6) (Modern King James Version). Paul wanted some books to be brought to him by Brother Timothy and these were perhaps none other than some of the Jewish Scrolls of the Old Testament which Paul no doubt read daily and at this time they had been taken away from him by the Roman soldiers or he had left them back in Troas along with his cloke. But Paul wanted Timothy to especially bring the 'parchments' and this English word is translated by the Greek word membrana (used this one time in the New Testament) meaning a (written) sheep skin: - parchment. In other words, it is the membrane of the sheep that was dried out and used then to write upon as we today use sheets of paper made from wood.

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about this verse, "Troas was not on the most direct route from Ephesus to Rome, but was a route frequently taken. In regard to what the 'cloak' here mentioned was, there has been considerable difference of opinion. The Greek word used phelonēs, occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is supposed to be used for a similar Greek word (phainolēs) to denote a cloak, or great-coat, with a hood, used chiefly on journeys, or in the army: Others, however, have supposed that the word means a traveling-case for books, etc. So Hesychius understands it. Bloomfield endeavors to unite the two opinions by suggesting that it may mean a 'cloak-bag,' and that he had left his books and parchments in it. It is impossible to settle the precise meaning of the word here, and it is not material. The common opinion that it was a wrapper or traveling-cloak, is the most probable; and such a garment would not be undesirable for a prisoner. It should be remembered, also, that winter was approaching 2 Timothy 4:21, and such a cloak would be particularly needed. He had probably passed through Troas in summer, and, not needing the cloak, and not choosing to encumber himself with it, had left it at the house of a friend. Carpus is not elsewhere mentioned. He was evidently a friend of the Apostle, and it would seem probable that Paul had made his house his home when he was in Troas. It is impossible to determine what books are meant here. They may have been portions of the Old Testament, or classic writings, or books written by other Christians, or by himself. It is worthy of remark that even Paul did not travel without books, and that he found them in some way necessary for the work of the ministry. Especially the parchments - The word here used (membranas, whence our word 'membrane'), occurs only in this place in the New Testament, and means skin, membrane, or parchment. Dressed skins were among the earliest materials for writing, and were in common use before the art of making paper was discovered. These 'parchments' seem to have been something different from 'books,' and probably refer to some of his own writings. They may have contained notes, memorandums, journals, or unfinished letters. It is, of course, impossible now to determine what they were. Benson supposes they were letters which he had received from the Churches; Macknight, that they were the originals of the letters which he had written; Dr. Bull, that they were a kind of common-place book, in which he inserted hints and extracts of the most remarkable passages in the authors which he read. All this, however, is mere conjecture."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…