📖 Biblical Definition
Trophimus was a Gentile believer from Ephesus who accompanied Paul on his return journey to Jerusalem at the close of the third missionary journey (Acts 20:4), carrying part of the Gentile relief offering. His presence in the temple courts (or rather, the Jerusalem Jews’ assumption that Paul had brought him there past the Court of the Gentiles) sparked the riot that led to Paul’s arrest: "For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple" (Acts 21:29). Paul mentions him again in his last letter — left sick at Miletum (2 Timothy 4:20). Even Paul could not always heal every illness; even apostolic ministry left wounded behind.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
TROPHIMUS, n.
expand to see more
A scriptural proper name; in the New Testament, a Gentile companion of Paul.
📖 Key Scripture
Acts 20:4 — "And there accompanied him into Asia... Tychicus and Trophimus."
Acts 21:29 — "They had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple."
2 Timothy 4:20 — "Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick."
James 5:14 — "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, and anoint him with oil."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Paul could not always heal his friends; even apostles leave coworkers sick.
expand to see more
2 Timothy 4:20 is a small verse that disrupts cessationist and continuationist accounts alike. Paul, the apostle through whom the Lord wrought special miracles (Acts 19:11) including raising Eutychus from the dead, was unable to heal Trophimus — he simply left him at Miletum sick. Apostolic gifting did not entail apostolic on-demand healing.
Modern healing ministries that promise recovery on cue often run aground on this verse. Trophimus stayed sick. Epaphroditus nearly died and recovered (Phil 2:27). Paul himself was given a thorn in the flesh that the Lord refused to remove (2 Cor 12:7-9). The Spirit heals when He chooses; faith does not always cure the body now; sickness is real even among the most faithful. Pray for healing; submit to His will; the body will be raised one way or another.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew/Greek roots below.
expand to see more
G5161 — Trophimos — Trophimus; nourishing
Usage
"Paul could not always heal his friends; even apostles leave coworkers sick."
"Modern healing ministries that promise recovery on cue run aground on Trophimus."
"Pray for healing; submit to His will; the body will be raised one way or another."