2Timothy 4:11-15 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he has greatly withstood our words.
‘Luke is with me’ – This was Luke, the evangelist and writer of the Gospel of Luke and Acts.
‘Mark’ – This was John Mark, nephew of Barnabas, who, after having failed to continue with Paul as a young man, was now a steady and faithful worker (Acts 12:12).
‘Tychicus’ – One of the trusted companions of Paul (Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7; Tit. 3:12).
‘Cloke’ [Greek: phelones] is used only here and means either a travelling cloak for protection against weather or, as others translate it, a travelling bag.
‘Books’ – What kind of books is not known.
‘Parchments’ – These were perhaps either the Jewish Scriptures or a copy of the Septuagint.
‘Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil.’ Another man who thrust away and made shipwreck of his faith (1Tim. 1:19-20) and who became an enemy of the gospel (4:14-15; Acts 19:33).
‘The Lord reward him according to his works.’ The Lord will reward him (Gal. 6:7-8).
‘For he has greatly withstood our words.’ This suggests that this man went about opposing the gospel and he was also known as the thorn in Paul’s flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet him (2Cor. 12:7).
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