16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. 18 The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.
In striking contrast to those who deserted Paul when he was in need, Onesiphorus supported him in prison. The antithesis between loyal Onesiphorus and disloyal Phygellus and Hermogenes is striking.
1:16
The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,
Onesiphorus was a believer from Ephesus who diligently searched for Paul when he was imprisoned. His “household” (family, slaves, laborers) enabled him to do it through their financial support (2 Tim 4:19). His purpose was to bring the apostle resources for his imprisonment. He asked that God grant him “mercy” for his service to the apostle (2 Tim 1:18).
for he often refreshed me,
Onesiphorus persisted in refreshing Paul by two means: personally refreshing his spirit and not being ashamed of his imprisonment, not only in Rome but also in Ephesus.
and was not ashamed of my chain [imprisonment];
Onesiphorus carried no shame of Paul’s imprisonment.
1:17
but when he arrived in Rome,
Paul was in prison in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire.
he sought me out very zealously and found me.
Onesiphorus painstakingly sought the location where Rome imprisoned Paul.
1:18
The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—
There is no evidence that Onesiphorus was dead when Paul wrote these words; thus, there is no evidence here for praying for the dead. Neither is there evidence anywhere else in Scripture.
“That Day” is the same as what Paul mentioned in verse 12, the Rapture (2 Tim 1:12).
and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.
Onesiphorus had ministered to Paul while he was in the harbor city of Ephesus on his second and third missionary enterprises (Acts 18:19; 19:1). Timothy, as pastor of the Ephesian church, knew “very well” how Onesiphorus ministered to Paul in that city.
PRINCIPLE:
The reality of pastoring a local church is that he will have both friends and enemies.
APPLICATION:
There is a tough side to pastors faithful to Scripture. He will have to take a stand against his critics, who seek to undermine him. His major problem is enemies who criticize him for teaching doctrine that runs counter to prevailing values in society. Some of his wealthy members will attempt to withdraw their giving to the church. In this situation, the pastor must stand on the truth of Scripture rather than what is more advantageous to the church’s financial wellbeing. Many pastors do not have the courage to put priority on the Scripture over human influence.
Pastors will also have many friends in his congregation who support his faithfulness to Scripture, such as Onesiphorus.
