Bible Encyclopedia: Trophimus

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

TROPHIMUS

trof'-i-mus (Trophimos, literally, "a foster child" (Acts 20:4; Acts 21:29 2 Timothy 4:20)): An Asiatic Christian, a friend and companion-in-travel of the apostle Paul.

1. An Ephesian:

In the first of the three passages in which Trophimus is mentioned, he and Tychicus are called Asianoi, that is, natives of the Roman province of Asia; and making it still more definite, in Acts 21:29, he is termed an "Ephesian." Trophimus was one of eight friends, who accompanied Paul at the close of his 3rd missionary journey, and traveled with him from Greece through Macedonia into Asia, and onward by sea until Jerusalem was reached (see TYCHICUS). Trophimus went with Paul all the way, for, in the second of the passages referred to, he is mentioned as being with Paul in Jerusalem immediately on the close of this journey.

2. Cause of Paul's Arrest:

He was the innocent cause of Paul being assaulted, in the courts of the temple by the Jewish mob, and then of his being arrested and imprisoned by the Romans. The occasion of this outrage was that the Jews supposed that Paul had "brought Greeks also into the temple, and.... defiled this holy place" (Acts 21:28). The modicum of fact lying at the root of this false accusation was that they had seen Paul and Trophimus in each other's company in the city. On this slender basis "they supposed" that Paul had brought Trophimus past the barrier or middle wall of partition (Ephesians 2:14; see PARTITION), beyond which no Gentile was allowed to penetrate on pain of death. They supposed that Trophimus who was neither a Jew nor a proselyte, but Gentile Christian, had been introduced into the temple itself by Paul-which would have been profanation. Hence, their fury against the apostle.

How strongly they insisted on the crime which Trophimus was falsely alleged to have committed on that occasion, is seen again in the way in which the orator Tertullus repeated the charge against Paul before the Roman governor Felix, who moreover assayed to profane the temple" (Acts 24:6).

3. At Miletus:

The third reference to Trophimus is in 2 Timothy 4:20, "Trophimus I left at Miletus sick." This final notice shows that he was again-several years after the date indicated in the previous passages-traveling with Paul on one of the missionary journeys which the apostle undertook after being liberated from his first imprisonment in Rome. It is exceedingly difficult, perhaps impossible, to trace the course of the different journeys which Paul now made, as there is no such narrative as is given in Acts for the former journeys, but merely incidental notices of his later travels, in the Pastoral Epistles. In this, the last of all his letters-2 Timothy-Paul indicates various places which he had visited, and also the names of friends who traveled with him on this the last of his apostolic journeys.

Among other places, he had visited Miletus, a city on the coast of the province of Asia; and there his old friend Trophimus had been laid down with illness, so severe that he could travel no farther, but Paul left him "at Miletus sick." It is to be noted that Miletus was not far from Ephesus, which was Trophimus' native city. There would be much intercourse between the two cities (see Acts 17, where Paul sends for the elders of the church at Ephesus to come to him at Miletus, which they did). Trophimus therefore, in his sickness, could easily reach Ephesus, or his friends from that city could quickly come to him at Miletus, and give him whatever attention and nursing he might require.

4. The Description of 2 Corinthians 8:18:

It has been conjectured that Trophimus is to be identified with the person mentioned in 2 Corinthians 8:16-24. Paul there speaks in the highest terms of one of his companions-but without giving his name-whom he sent with Titus. Titus and this disciple were evidently those to whose care Paul entrusted the carrying of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians to its destination. The apostle says of this unnamed brother, not only that his praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, but also that he was chosen by the churches to travel with him, i.e. with Paul, with this grace, i.e. with the contribution of money collected in the Gentile churches for the poor saints in Jerusalem.

Now it is certain that at the close of his 3rd missionary journey Paul carried these gifts to Jerusalem ("I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings," Acts 24:17); and some of the eight friends who accompanied him on the journey (Acts 20:4) were those who had been entrusted by the churches with the safe conveyance of the money. Speaking of these collections, Paul writes (1 Corinthians 16:3-4). "Whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem: and if it be meet for me to go also, they shall go with me." These conditions were fulfilled, when Paul and his eight friends traveled from Greece to Jerusalem, carrying the money with them. There is therefore certainty that one of the eight is the brother referred to in 2 Corinthians 8:18, whose praise in the gospel was in all the churches, and whom the churches had appointed to travel with Paul for the purpose of carrying the money contribution, and whom Paul had "many times proved earnest in many things" (2 Corinthians 8:18, 19, 22). The eight were Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus, both from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus, both "Asians," and lastly Luke.

There is certainly the possibility that the unnamed brother was Trophimus: if not Trophimus, then he was one of the other seven. Of these seven, by the process of elimination, the unnamed brother could only be one of those who traveled with Paul the whole distance as far as Jerusalem, for this was the work which "the brother" had been appointed by the churches to do. Now it is certain that Luke and Trophimus were with him on his arrival in Jerusalem (Acts 21:17, 29). Therefore the brother whose praise in the gospel was in all the churches may very well have been Trophimus: if not Trophimus, then possibly Luke or Aristarchus. Gaius and Aristarchus are termed "Paul's companions in travel" (Acts 19:29); and Aristarchus was afterward with Paul in Palestine, and sailed with him to Rome. It is quite remarkable that the same word, sunekdemos, "companion in travel," is applied to the unnamed brother (2 Corinthians 8:19), and to Gaius and Aristarchus in Acts 19:29.

As the conditions do not seem to be satisfied in Sopater, Secundus or Timothy, the brother so highly commended must have been either Luke or Gaius or Aristarchus or Tychicus or Trophimus.

John Rutherfurd

Greek

5161. Trophimos -- Trophimus, a Christian
... Trophimus, a Christian. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Trophimos
Phonetic Spelling: (trof'-ee-mos) Short Definition: Trophimus Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5161.htm - 6k

Library

Epistle Li. To Antonianus About Cornelius and Novatian.
... in these letters that I should write to you once more what heresy Novatian had
introduced, or on what grounds Cornelius holds communion with Trophimus and the ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle li to antonianus about.htm

Objections to Genuineness.
... in Gallias"to preach." "Under Claudius "sub CLDIO"Peter the Apostle sent certain
disciples into Gaul to preach,"they were, Trophimus, Paulus, Martial ...
/.../dionysius/letters of dionysius the areopagite/objections to genuineness.htm

2 Timothy iv. 13-Sep
... Ver.20. "Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.". ...
"Trophimus I have left at Miletum sick." Miletus was near Ephesus. ...
/.../homily x 2 timothy iv.htm

List of Bishops.
... Arles. St. Trophimus c.46 Dionysius the Areopagite 68-70 St. Regulus St. ... Trophimus.
See "Monuments inédits" de M. Faillon, t. II. p. 375, and Darras, p. 14. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/dionysius/ecclesiastical hierarchy/list of bishops.htm

Paul's Second Imprisonment, and Martyrdom; Peter, his Epistles ...
... Again, he remarks""Erastus abode at Corinth, but Trophimus have I left at Miletum
sick." [153:6] Any ordinary reader would at once infer from this ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter x pauls second imprisonment.htm

Epistle Liii. To virgilius, Bishop.
... of Gaul in support of the jurisdiction over them of Patroclus of Arles, speaks of
such jurisdiction being of ancient right, derived from Trophimus having been ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle liii to virgilius bishop.htm

Paul's Epistles; his Collection for the Poor Saints at Jerusalem ...
... namely, "Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristech's and Secundus; and
Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus." [132:4 ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ix pauls epistles his.htm

Pastoral and Personal
... to Miletus (2:Tim.4:13). On account of sickness Trophimus was left at Miletus
(2:Tim.4:20). He next probably visited Crete, where ...
/.../sell/bible studies in the life of paul/study x pastoral and personal.htm

The Pastoral Epistles
... journey to Jerusalem in Acts 20. because Trophimus was with the apostle when
he reached that city (Acts 21:29). Again, in 2 Timothy 4 ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xvii the pastoral epistles.htm

Paul's Last Journey to Jerusalem
... were "Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and
Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus." Paul had ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 37 pauls last journey.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Trophimus

well educated; well brought up

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Trophimus

(nutritious). Both Trophimus and Tychicus accompanied Paul from Macedonia as far as Asia, but Tychicus seems to have remained there, while Trophimus proceeded with the apostle to Jerusalem. (A.D. 54.) There he was the innocent cause of the tumult in which St. Paul was apprehended. (Acts 21:27-29) From this passage we learn two new facts, viz. that Trophimus was a Gentile, and that he was a native of Trophimus was probably one brethren who, with Titus, conveyed the second Epistle to the Corinthians. (2 Corinthians 8:16-24) [TYCHICUS]

ATS Bible Dictionary

Trophimus

A disciple of Paul, a Gentile and an Ephesian by birth, came to Corinth with the apostle, and accompanied him in his whole journey to Jerusalem, A. D. 58, Acts 20:4. When the apostle was in the temple there, the Jews laid hold of him, crying out, "He hath brought Greeks into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place;" because, having seen him in the city accompanied by Trophimus, they imagined that he had introduced him into the temple.

Some years afterwards, Paul writes that he had left him sick at Miletus, 2 Timothy 4:20. This did not occur at Paul's former visit to Millets, since Trophimus went with him to Jerusalem; nor on the voyage to Rome, for they did not go near Millets. It is therefore one of the circumstances which prove that Paul was released, and revisited Asia Minor, Crete, Macedonia, and perhaps Spain, before his second imprisonment and death. Of Trophimus nothing farther is known.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A foster-child, an Ephesian who accompanied Paul during a part of his third missionary journey (Acts 20:4; 21:29). He was with Paul in Jerusalem, and the Jews, supposing that the apostle had brought him with him into the temple, raised a tumult which resulted in Paul's imprisonment. (see TEMPLE, HEROD'S.) In writing to Timothy, the apostle says, "Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick" (2 Timothy 4:20). This must refer to some event not noticed in the Acts.

Thesaurus

Trophimus (3 Occurrences)
... (see TEMPLE, HEROD'S.) In writing to Timothy, the apostle says, "Trophimus have
I left at Miletum sick" (2 Timothy 4:20). ... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TROPHIMUS. ...
/t/trophimus.htm - 15k

Troph'imus (3 Occurrences)
Troph'imus. Trophimus, Troph'imus. Troth . ... (See NAS). 2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus
did remain in Corinth, and Trophimus I left in Miletus infirm; (See RSV). ...
/t/troph'imus.htm - 7k

Tychicus (5 Occurrences)
... Chance, an Asiatic Christian, a "faithful minister in the Lord" (Ephesians 6:21,
22), who, with Trophimus, accompanied Paul on a part of his journey from ...
/t/tychicus.htm - 14k

Ephesus (20 Occurrences)
... 1:3). Two of Paul's companions, Trophimus and Tychicus, were probably
natives of Ephesus (Acts 20:4; 21:29; 2 Timothy 4:12). In ...
/e/ephesus.htm - 24k

Sick (117 Occurrences)
... their gifts of healing, it is noteworthy that we read of the sickness of two of
Paul's companions, Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:26) and Trophimus (2 Timothy 4:20 ...
/s/sick.htm - 44k

Gaius (5 Occurrences)
... accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the
Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. ...
/g/gaius.htm - 10k

Ga'ius (5 Occurrences)
... accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the
Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. ...
/g/ga'ius.htm - 7k

Wall (227 Occurrences)
... an apostle of Christ and a preacher of the gospel for the world, but specially because
it was erroneously supposed that he had brought Trophimus the Ephesian ...
/w/wall.htm - 49k

Infirm (25 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus did remain in Corinth, and Trophimus I left in Miletus
infirm; (YLT). James 5:14 is any infirm among you? ...
/i/infirm.htm - 13k

Tych'icus (5 Occurrences)
... unto Asia, Sopater of Berea, and of Thessalonians Aristarchus and Secundus, and
Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus, and of Asiatics Tychicus and Trophimus; (See RSV ...
/t/tych'icus.htm - 7k

Bible Concordance

Trophimus (3 Occurrences)

Acts 20:4 These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea; Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Acts 21:29 For they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV)

2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Trophimus

Trophimus with Paul in Jerusalem; Made the Occasion of an Attack on Paul

Trophimus: Accompanies Paul from Greece to Asia

Trophimus: Left Ill at Miletus

Related Terms

Troph'imus (3 Occurrences)

Tychicus (5 Occurrences)

Ephesus (20 Occurrences)

Sick (117 Occurrences)

Gaius (5 Occurrences)