Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Timothy 4:13

ἀπέλιπον. See above on 2 Timothy 4:10.

13. INSTRUCTIONS TO TIMOTHY, (14, 15) AND A WARNING

13. τὸν φελόνην. This is the orthography followed by the best MSS.: the word φελόνης seems to be an incorrect form of φαινόλης = Latin paenula (the rendering here of the Latin versions). The meaning of the term has been variously explained. Chrysostom mentions, but does not favour, the translation adopted by the Peshito version, which takes φελόνης as equivalent to γλωσσόκομον or ‘a case for books.’ And, as a matter of fact, the vellum wrapper with which a papyrus roll was encased to protect it was called a φαινόλης or paenula. But to adopt the rendering ‘book-cover’ here seems to be an entire misapprehension, suggested by the mention of the books and parchments in the next clause of the verse. The primary meaning is that adopted by Chrysostom (in Phil. Hom. 1) and Tertullian (de orat. 12), viz. that φελόνης = paenula = a travelling cloak with long sleeves, such as would be specially desirable in cold weather. From the fact that φαινόλιον is often used (e.g. in the Liturgy of St Chrysostom) for a chasuble, some ingeniously perverse commentators have here translated φελόνης thus, and so find Scriptural authority for ecclesiastical vestments! This does not need refutation. φελόνης is a cloak, such a large outer cloak as is serviceable in winter (2 Timothy 4:21).

ὃν�, which I left in Troas at the house of Carpus. Nothing is known of Carpus, beside this notice. The visit to Troas alluded to here could not have been the one recorded at Acts 20:6, for that was six years before the time of writing, and the language used suggests a recent visit. It must have taken place in the period of freedom between the first and second imprisonments at Rome, to which allusion is also made in 2 Timothy 4:20. See Introd. chap. II.

καὶ τὰ βιβλία, μάλιστα τὰς μεμβράνας, and the books, especially the parchments. μεμβράναι (ἅπ. λεγ. in the Greek Bible) is simply the Latin word membranae Graecised, and means the prepared skins of vellum, which gradually superseded papyrus for writing purposes. In the first century vellum would only be used for the more precious codices and documents, papyrus serving for ordinary books and letters, which sufficiently explains the μάλιστα. It is, of course, impossible to determine what these books and parchments contained; we may suppose the Books of the O.T. Scriptures, and (possibly) the diploma of Paul’s Roman citizenship, to have been among them, but we have nothing to go on.

Farrar notes an interesting parallel in the history of William Tyndale, who when in captivity at Vilvorde in 1535, wrote to the governor to beg for warmer clothing, a woollen shirt and, above all, his Hebrew Bible, Grammar, and Dictionary[525].

[525] Damaus’ Life of Tyndale, p. 475.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Timothy 4:13

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