onesiphorus Summary and Overview

bringing profit, an Ephesian Christian who showed great kindness to Paul at Rome. He served him in many things, and had oft refreshed him. Paul expresses a warm interest in him and his household (2 Tim. 1:16-18; 4:19).

(bringing profit) is named twice only in the New Testament, viz. #2Ti 1:16-18| and 2Tim 4:19 Paul mentions him in terms of grateful love as having a noble courage and generosity in his behalf, amid his trials as a prisoner at Rome, when others from whom he expected better things had deserted him. #2Ti 4:16| Probably other members of the family were also active Christians. #2Ti 4:19| It is evident from #2Ti 1:18| that Onesiphorus had his home at Ephesus. (A.D. 64.)

ONESIPH'ORUS (profit-bringing), a primitive Christian who ministered to the wants of Paul at Ephesus, and afterward sought him out at Rome and openly sympathized with him. 2 Tim 1:16-18, 2 Tim 4:19.

2 Timothy 1:16-18; 2 Timothy 4:19; "the Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus (as Onesiphorus showed mercy), for he oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain (compare Matthew 25:36; Matthew 25:45), 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 (as he found me) of the Lord in that day; and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus thou knowest very well." "Salute the household of Onesiphorus" (2 Timothy 4:19). Absence from Ephesus probably is the cause of the expression; he had not yet returned from his visit to Rome. If the master were dead the household would not be called after his name. A good man's household shares in his blessing from God as in his deeds for God. Nowhere does Paul use prayers for the dead; Onesiphorus therefore was not dead. "The household of Stephanas" does not exclude "Stephanas" (1 Corinthians 1:16; 1 Corinthians 16:17) so "the household of Onesiphorus" does not necessarily exclude Onesiphorus.