Onesiphorus
2Ti 1:16-18; 2Ti 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 Mat 25:36; Mat 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" (2Ti 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" (1Co 1:16; 1Co 16:17) so "the household of Onesiphorus" does not necessarily exclude Onesiphorus.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Onesiphorus
Onesiphorus o-ne-sif'-o-rus (Onesiphoros, literally, "profit bringer" (2Ti 1:16; 4:19)): ⇒See a list of verses on ONESIPHORUS in the Bible. 1. The Friend of Paul: Onesiphorus was a friend of the apostle Paul, who mentions him twice when writing to Timothy. In the former of the two passages where his name occurs, his conduct is contrasted with that of Phygellus and Hermogenes and others--all of whom, like Onesiphorus himself, were of the province of Asia--from whom Paul might well have expected to receive sympathy and help. These persons had "turned away" from him. Onesiphorus acted in a different way, for "he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but, when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me." ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia. Onesiphorus was one of the Christians of the church in Ephesus; and the second passage, where his name is found, merely sends a message of greeting from Paul, which Timothy in Ephesus is requested to deliver to "the household of Onesiphorus." (the King James Version). 2. Visits Paul in Rome: Onesiphorus then…
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Onesiphorus
A friend of St. Paul at Rome, menting only in the NT, 2 Ti 1!%-18 48 From the former of these passages it appears that Onesiphorus when he arrived in Rome and learnt that St. Paul was in captivity, sought him out diligently, and ‘re. freshed’ him, not with bodily nourishment only, * Or at least seriously weakened. Er appears in1(h 42 as a sub-clan of Shelah, and Onan is perhaps=Onam of 1 Oh 2%, @ sub-clan of Jerahmeel. ONTARES ONIAS 623 but with ets token of friendship. Of this friendship St. Paul retained a very lively recol- jection, the more so that others, the Asiatics Phygelus and Hermogenes, had deserted him (2 Ti 1%); and in writing to Timothy recalled further the many good offices which Onesiphorus had performed at Πρ οτας of which Timothy from his residence there would know ‘better’ (βέλτιον) than St. Paul or any one else could tell him. It should be noted that these offices are not repre- sented as extended specially to St. Paul himself, as the AV, by the insertion of ‘ unto me,’ implies; nor is the use of the verb d:axovéw sufficient warrant for the belief that Onesiphorus…
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Onesiphorus
(bringing profit) is named twice only in the New Testament, viz. (2 Timothy 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. (2 Timothy 4:16) Probably other members of the family were also active Christians. (2 Timothy 4:19) It is evident from (2 Timothy 1:18) that Onesiphorus had his home at Ephesus. (A.D. 64.)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia