II Timothy 4:21 · Bible study
2 Timothy 4:21 Commentary: Urgent Call, Faithful Names
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine the urgency of Paul's request to Timothy and the significance of Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia in Paul's final greetings.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul urgently summons Timothy before winter travel ends, and sends greetings from Roman believers, showing community even in imprisonment.
- Key words: Spoudason (be eager, hasten), pro cheimōnos (before winter), aspazetai (greets).
- Main debate: Whether Claudia was a British noblewoman and Pudens a Roman knight (based on Martial and an inscription) or whether these figures are otherwise unknown.
- Theological theme: The gospel creates a family that transcends ethnicity and status, remembered by name in God's word.
- Best use: Demonstrates that Paul's pastoral heart combined practical wisdom with deep relational care, modeling how faith engages both the urgent and the ordinary.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Make every effort to come to me before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
KJV King James Version 1769
Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Give diligence to come before winter. Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
be diligent to come before winter. Salute thee doth Eubulus, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Use diligence to come before winter. Eubulus salutes thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and the brethren all.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Make haste to come before winter. Eubulus and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren, salute thee.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Procura venir antes del invierno. Eubulo te saluda, y Pudente, y Lino, y Claudia, y todos los hermanos.
Procura vir antes do inverno. Êubulo, Pudente, Lino, Cláudia e todos os irmãos te cumprimentam.
Tâche de venir avant l’ hiver. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, et tous les frères te saluent.
Tue Fleiß, daß du vor dem Winter kommst. Es grüßt dich Eubulus und Pudens und Linus und Klaudia und alle Brüder.
Benaarstig u, om voor den winter te komen. U groet Eubulus, en Pudens, en Linus, en Klaudia, en al de broeders.
Studiati di venire prima dell’inverno. Ti salutano Eubulo e Pudente e Lino e Claudia e i fratelli tutti.
Staraj się, abyś przyszedł przed zimą. Pozdrawia cię Eubulus i Pudens, i Linus, i Klaudyja, i bracia wszyscy.
Постарайся придти до зимы. Приветствуют тебя Еввул, и Пуд, и Лин, и Клавдия, и все братия.
你要趕緊 在冬天 以前 到我這裡來。有友布羅、 布田、 利奴、 革老底亞，和 眾 弟兄 都問你 安。
Do your best to come before the winter. Eubulus sends you his love, and Pudens and Linus and Claudia, and all the brothers.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Timothy 4:21
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators uniformly agree that Paul's request to Timothy to ‘be diligent to come before winter’ is driven by both practical urgency and deep personal need. The journey across the Mediterranean was dangerous after winter storms began (Clarke, Barnes, Gill). Equally, Paul's isolation after friends deserted him (2 Ti 4:10,16) makes Timothy's companionship a final comfort before martyrdom (Calvin, Lange). The greetings that follow, from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers, represent a tangible community of believers still present at Rome. While nothing certain is known of Eubulus (Clarke, Barnes), early tradition identifies Linus as the first bishop of Rome after the apostles (Irenaeus, Eusebius cited in Cambridge). Claudia is often linked to the British wife of Pudens in Martial's epigrams (JFB, Gill, Clarke). The consensus is clear: even in his final days, Paul highlights real people whose names ground the gospel in history and testify to a living church that surrounded the apostle even when he felt forsaken.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Paul urgently summons Timothy before winter and sends greetings from a group of named believers in Rome, showing a living community around the imprisoned apostle.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of Claudia | Claudia was a Christian woman in the Roman church known to Paul and Timothy. | Some identify her as a British noblewoman married to Pudens (JFB, Gill, Clarke), citing Martial and the Chichester inscription; others note no certain historical identification exists (Barnes, Cambridge). |
| Linus as bishop of Rome | Early church tradition (Irenaeus, Eusebius) names Linus as the first bishop of Rome after the apostles. | Protestant commentators (Gill, Clarke) question the reliability of later papal succession lists, noting conflicting traditions about Peter's immediate successor. |
| Urgency of 'before winter' | Paul's request is driven by the practical danger of winter Mediterranean travel and his own imminent death. | Some emphasize Paul's personal need for Timothy's company; others also note he needed his cloak (2 Ti 4:13) and perhaps legal support. |
| Meaning of 'all the brothers' | It refers to the Roman Christian community at large. | Whether this implies a large, organized church (Cambridge) or simply Paul's close associates (Barnes) is debated, given that earlier he said he was deserted (v.16). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul wrote this letter from a Roman prison, likely in the Mamertine dungeon, during Nero's persecution (c. AD 66, 68). Ancient Mediterranean sailing ceased between November and March, making a ‘before winter’ deadline critical. Paul needed his cloak, books, and parchments (2 Ti 4:13), practical items for a cold cell and continued study. The plea also reveals a dying man's longing for his spiritual son.
The five named individuals offer glimpses into the social fabric of the early Roman church. Eubulus appears only here; his name means ‘prudent’ and nothing else is known (Barnes, Clarke). Pudens and Claudia may have been husband and wife. The Roman poet Martial (Epigrams 4.13, 11.54) mentions a Pudens, a Roman knight, married to a British woman named Claudia. A marble inscription found at Chichester (1772) records a British king Cogidunus with the surname Claudius, and a Pudens listed nearby (JFB). Some commentators therefore suggest Claudia was a Briton sent to Rome for education, possibly converted by Pomponia Graecina (accused of ‘foreign superstition’, maybe Christianity) (Tacitus, Annals 13.32; JFB). If true, the gospel had reached provincial nobility even under Nero.
Linus is given special weight. Irenaeus (Against Heresies 3.3.3) and Eusebius (Church History 3.2) name him as the first bishop of Rome after Peter and Paul's martyrdom. This tradition persisted, although Gill and Clarke note that the Roman Catholic claims rest on later, sometimes conflicting lists. The very inclusion of Linus in Paul's greeting suggests he was already a prominent leader in the Roman church.
Claudia's presence shows women held honored places in Paul's circle. All these names, some obscure, some tradition-laden, form a final snapshot of a community that gathered around the apostle even in chains.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for 2 Timothy 4:21. The verse is stable across the manuscript tradition. Minor differences in English translations (e.g., ‘do thy diligence’ vs. ‘be diligent’) reflect stylistic choices rather than textual disagreement.
Reception History
Early church fathers, especially Irenaeus and Eusebius, seized on the name Linus to establish an unbroken episcopal succession from the apostles. This shaped Roman Catholic claims about the papacy. During the Reformation, commentators like Calvin and Beza debated the historical value of such tradition, arguing that the verse does not directly support papal succession. Anglican and Protestant scholars of the 19th century (Cambridge, JFB) explored the archaeological links to Claudia and Pudens, seeing the verse as evidence of the gospel's spread to Britain. Modern scholarship focuses on the verse's role in reconstructing Paul's final days and the social makeup of the early Roman church, treating the names as authentic historical anchors rather than symbolic figures.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Urgency born of love: Paul's repeated plea (2 Ti 4:9,21) reflects both the danger of winter travel and the depth of his bond with Timothy. Love compels haste.
- Community in isolation: Despite being abandoned by many, Paul still has Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers. A faithful remnant remains.
- Names that matter: Every person in the list is ordinary yet eternally recorded. God remembers those who belong to His people, even if history forgets.
Five-point outline
- Practical faith: Paul does not spiritualize winter; he plans around it. Faith makes room for common sense.
- Personal presence: Timothy's company matters more than a letter. The gospel lives in embodied relationships.
- Specific saints: Greeting individuals by name shows the church is not a crowd but a family.
- Hidden witnesses: Most early Christians remain anonymous. These few named remind us that every believer's life is written in God's book.
- Open arms: ‘All the brothers’ includes everyone. The church at Rome, despite persecution, remains united in greeting.
Illustration hooks
- A friend who makes a long drive in bad weather to sit with a dying loved one, urgency driven by love.
- A church directory full of names that only matter to that congregation but are precious to God.
- The discovery of an old list of members in a church archive, ordinary names that testify to a living faith across generations.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why would Paul risk Timothy's safety by calling him to Rome in winter?
- Does God care about the small details of my life, like travel plans and material needs?
- How can I be part of a community when I feel as isolated as Paul did?
Leading a Discussion
Paul's final letter to Timothy is remarkable for its blend of heavenward hope and down-to-earth requests. In one breath he speaks of the heavenly kingdom (v.18); in the next he asks for a cloak and a winter visit. This tension teaches us that faith in glory does not erase our need for human presence and practical care. As you discuss this passage, consider how the ordinary details of church life, a list of names, a travel plan, carry eternal weight.
Discussion questions
- Read 2 Timothy 4:21. What reasons might Paul have for urging Timothy to come ‘before winter’? (Consider v.9,13 and Acts 27:9-12.)
- The greeting lists five individuals plus ‘all the brothers’. What does this tell us about Paul's relationship with the Roman church at that moment? (Compare 2 Ti 4:16.)
- Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia appear only here (except Linus in later tradition). Why do you think the Holy Spirit chose to preserve these obscure names in Scripture?
- Early tradition links Linus to the bishopric of Rome. Others are skeptical. How should we hold church tradition alongside the biblical text? What is the value of knowing that a real person named Linus greeted Timothy?
- Some scholars believe Claudia was a British noblewoman. If true, how does her presence in these greetings expand our view of the spread of the early church?
- Paul is alone in prison, yet he speaks of ‘all the brothers’. How can a church support its isolated members, prisoners, the sick, the elderly, in tangible ways today?
- What one practical step could your group take to ‘come before winter’ for someone who needs your presence?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Romans 16:21 | Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. |
| Romans 16:23 | Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother. |
| I Corinthians 16:20 | All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. |
| II Corinthians 13:13 | All the saints greet you. |
| Philippians 4:22 | All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household. |
| II Timothy 1:4 | longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy; |
| II Timothy 4:9 | Be diligent to come to me soon, |
| II Timothy 4:13 | Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that little certain is known about Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia. He dismisses Catholic claims that Pudens and Linus were bishops of Rome as lacking evidence. The tradition that Claudia was a British lady who first brought the Gospel to Britain is mentioned but not confirmed as fact.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that Paul's urgency for Timothy to come before winter stems from practical concerns: dangerous sea travel and the apostle's pressing need for a companion. He also notes that the names Eubulus and others appear frequently in classical writings, yet nothing personal is known about them.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Paul's "therefore" deliberately connects Scripture to the act of preaching. He argues against those who claim silent reading of the Bible is enough, insisting that God and Christ have also commanded the living voice of teachers to administer and explain the Word.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator stresses that Paul's plea for Timothy to come before winter is not a casual remark but a driving urgency woven into the letter's farewell. It also notes early church
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Make speede to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill uses the mention of Pudens, Linus, and Claudia to challenge the Roman Catholic claim of an unbroken papal succession from Peter. He points out the confusion and contradictions in Catholic sources about who was Peter's immediate successor—Linus, Cletus, or Clement—showing the tradition is unreliable.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB reads the closing names as a historical window into early British Christianity. He identifies Claudia as a Briton, likely the daughter of a British king, and suggests that Pomponia, accused of foreign superstitions, may have converted her. He then links Pudens and Claudia to an inscription showing they later married, with Linus placed third because he was not yet a bishop.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange observes that after Paul’s exalted vision of future glory, he turns to ordinary personal requests—longing for Timothy, asking for his cloak and books. This genuine human longing for friends and attention to small practical matters, even as death approaches, shows that Paul’s spiritual confidence is no mere enthusiasm but rooted in real human experience.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes the painful contrast: the same Roman Christians who once welcomed Paul eagerly abandoned him when showing support meant sharing his danger. He treats Paul's forgiving prayer as a mark of apostolic grace, distinguishing this failure as a sin of weakness rather than willful betrayal.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia. N. T. o.