2 Timothy 4:11
“Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul notes that only Luke remains with him and asks Timothy to bring Mark, who is useful for ministry.
What Does 2 Timothy 4:11 Mean?
Paul names his current company: only Luke remains at his side. He asks Timothy to bring Mark along, for Mark is profitable to him for the ministry. The aging apostle gathers his trusted few around him.
The mention of Mark is moving in light of their history, for Mark had once departed from Paul's earlier work and caused a sharp disagreement. Now, near the end, Paul calls Mark useful and wants him near. It is a quiet picture of reconciliation and restored usefulness. For the reader, this offers hope: past failures need not be final. Those who once faltered can be restored and become valuable again in God's work. Paul's willingness to welcome Mark shows a heart shaped by grace, and it encourages all who have stumbled to believe they too can be useful once more in the service of Christ.