Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Timothy 4:13

"The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments." — 2 Timothy 4:13 (ASV)

The cloak that I left at Troas. On the situation of Troas, see the notes on Acts 16:8.

It was not on the most direct route from Ephesus to Rome, but it was a route frequently taken. See Introduction to the Acts, paragraph 2. In regard to what the "cloak" mentioned here was, there has been considerable difference of opinion. The Greek word used (felonhv, variously written failonhv, felonhv, and felwnhv) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.

It is supposed to be used for a similar Greek word (fainolhv) to denote a cloak or greatcoat with a hood, used chiefly on journeys or in the army (Latin: penula). It is described by Eschenberg (Manual of Classical Literature, p. 209) as a "cloak without sleeves, for cold or rainy weather." See the uses of it in the quotations made by Wetstein, in loc.

Others, however, have supposed that the word means a traveling case for books, etc. So Hesychus 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.

On the meaning of the word, see Wetstein; Robinson, Lexicon; and Schleusner, Lexicon. Compare also Suicer's Thesaurus, volume 2, page 1422. The doubt regarding what is meant here is as old as Chrysostom. He says (Homily X on this epistle), "that the word (felonhn) denotes a garment—to imation. But some understood by it a capsula, or bag—glwssokomon." Compare the notes on John 12:6.

"In which books, etc., were carried."

With Carpus. Carpus is not mentioned elsewhere; 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.

And the books. It is impossible to determine what books are meant here. They may have been portions of the Old Testament, classical 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 used here (membranov, from which our word membrane is derived) 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 from rags 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, memoranda, journals, or unfinished letters. It is, of course, impossible now to determine what they were. Benson supposes they were letters that he had received from the churches; Macknight, that they were the originals of the letters which he had written; Bishop Bull, that they were a kind of commonplace book in which he inserted hints and extracts of the most remarkable passages in the authors whom he read. All this, however, is mere conjecture.