Trophimus/ˈtrɒfɪməs,ˈtroʊ-/ (Greek:Τρόφιμος,Tróphimos) orTrophimus the Ephesian (Greek:Τρόφιμος ὁ Ἐφέσιος,Tróphimos ho Ephésios) was a Christian who accompaniedPaul during a part of his thirdmissionary journey. He was with Paul inJerusalem, and theJews, supposing that theapostle had brought him into thetemple, raised a tumult which resulted in Paul's imprisonment. (SeeHerod's Temple). In writing toTimothy, the apostle comments that he left Trophimus inMiletus due to illness.[1] This must refer to some event not noticed in the Acts.
His feast is kept on 29 December.[2]
Trophimus and companionTychicus are called "Asianoi"(Acts 20:4). He was fromEdessa.[3]
Trophimus was one of eight friends (Acts 20:4), who accompanied Paul at the close of his third missionary journey and traveled with him fromGreece, through Macedonia, into Asia, and onward by sea until Jerusalem was reached. Trophimus completed the journey with Paul, for, in the passagesActs 21:29, he is mentioned as being with Paul in Jerusalem immediately on the close of this journey.
He was the cause of Paul being assaulted in the courts of the temple by the mob, and then of his being arrested and imprisoned by the Romans. The occasion of this outrage was that Paul had "brought Greeks also into the temple, and....defiled this holy place" (Acts 21:28).
Trophimus is also mentioned in2 Timothy 4:20: "Trophimus I left at Miletus sick." This 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 inRome.
It has been conjectured that Trophimus is to be identified with the person mentioned in 2 Corinthians 8:16-24.[5] There, Paul speaks in the highest terms of one of his companions whom he sent withTitus but does not provide his name. Titus and this disciple were evidently, those to whose care Paul entrusted the carrying ofthe Second Epistle to the Corinthians. 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.[6]
Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychius andTrophimus.
For they had previously seenTrophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
Erastus remained at Corinth, and I leftTrophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.
— 2 Timothy 4:20 ESV