2 Timothy 4:20

Erastus and Trophimus were old associates of Timothy (Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4; Acts 21:29). Paul sent news of them. Some authorities believe that Paul’s ability to heal people physically had ended. Many of them believe that God gave the gift of healing to the church only in its infancy to help authenticate the apostles as they ministered to the Jews (Ephesians 2:20; Hebrews 2:3-4). [Note: See Gary W. Derickson, "The Decline of Miracles in the New Testament Era," Th.M. thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1986; idem, "The Cessation of Healing Miracles in Paul’s Ministry," Bibliotheca Sacra 155:619 (July-September 1998):299-315.] A better explanation, I think, is that, though the gift of healing did decline, Jesus’ and the apostles’ ability to heal always depended on the sovereign will of God (Luke 5:17; Acts 3:12-13). Evidently it was not God’s will for Trophimus to experience miraculous healing then (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).