“The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well” (2 Tim. 1:16-18).
Here is a man complemented by Paul and lifted up to Timothy as an example of faithful service. His household is called upon to be blessed with the mercy of the Lord due to his service. Consider three things to be learned of such a servant.
1. Unwavering Pattern of Providing Aid. The name of this man means “profit-bringer” (Thayer, p. 447). He and his household are only mentioned in the book of Second Timothy (cf. 2 Tim. 1:16; 4:19). He served Paul both in Ephesus (it is assumed that he was from Ephesus) as well as in Rome. Paul tells Timothy that Onesiphorus “oft refreshed me” (2 Tim. 1:16) and “in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well” (2 Tim. 1:18). Some people provide early in their lives and then cease later on. Some people provide only when it is convenient and then make excuses when life gets “crowded” with other things. This man was well known for his service to Paul and goes down in the history of the pages of the Bible as one of unwavering loyalty. He truly fits the meaning of his name.
2. Unashamed of Paul’s Situation in Prison. Paul did not have an easy time in Ephesus as seen in other places in the Bible. Paul wrote, “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die” (1 Cor. 15:32). Acts 19:23-41 records a time when Paul was not popular with many of the locals in Ephesus. When Paul is in prison in Rome, Onesiphorus “sought me out very diligently, and found me” (2 Tim. 1:17) and is clearly stated of his attitude toward Paul’s imprisonment that he “was not ashamed of my chain” (2 Tim. 1:16). Imprisonment did not appear to be a sign of sterling character to most, yet suffering for doing right moves righteous people to do what they can to show their dedication to the cause and its people. Shame, embarrassment and the like cause the weak to shirk back from being seen by the public eye. Onesiphorus would put his reputation and life on the line for the cause of Christ.
3. Uplifted Before the Lord to Receive Mercy in the End. Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7). Onesiphorus is declared to be a merciful, ministering brother. The end of time is a time of reckoning concerning the life lived now (cf. Rev. 20:12-13). It can truly be said of Onesiphorus, as Jesus said, “I was in prison, and ye came unto me” (Matt. 25:36). To serve Paul was to serve the Lord. What a blessing to know that a life of service in the face of difficult times does not go unnoticed and unrewarded in the end. Would that God would raise up more men like this. He had a family and surely he had a responsibility to provide for his family (cf. 1 Tim. 5:8) yet he would do all that he could to help God’s people. Paul used the case of Onesiphorus to spur Timothy on in his work (cf. 2 Tim. 1:6-18). Hearing the words “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21, 23) and thus entering into heaven is all that really matters in the end.
Jimmy Clark