Bible Encyclopedia: Onesiphorus

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ONESIPHORUS

o-ne-sif'-o-rus (Onesiphoros, literally, "profit bringer" (2 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 4:19)):

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."

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 had come from Ephesus to Rome. It was to Paul that the church at Ephesus owed its origin, and it was to him therefore that Onesiphorus and the Christians there were indebted for all that they knew of Christ. Onesiphorus gratefully remembered these facts, and having arrived in Rome, and learned that Paul was in prison, he "very diligently" sought for the apostle. But to do this, though it was only his duty, involved much personal danger at that particular time. For the persecution, inaugurated by Nero against the Christians, had raged bitterly; its fury was not yet abated, and this made the profession of the Christian name a matter which involved very great risk of persecution and of death.

Paul was not the man to think lightly of what his Ephesian friend had done. He remembered too, "in how many things he ministered at Ephesus." And, writing to Timothy, he reminded him that Onesiphorus's kindly ministrations at Ephesus were already well known to him, from his residence in Ephesus, and from his position, as minister of the church there.

It should be observed that the ministration of Onesiphorus at Ephesus was not, as the King James Version gives it, "to me," that is, to Paul himself. "To me" is omitted in the Revised Version (British and American). What Onesiphorus had done there was a wide Christian ministry of kindly action; it embraced "many things," which were too well known-for such is the force of the word-to Timothy to require repetition.

The visits which Onesiphorus paid to Paul in his Roman prison were intensely "refreshing." And it was not once or twice that he thus visited the chained prisoner, but he did so ofttimes.

3. His Household:

Though Onesiphorus had come to Rome, his household had remained in Ephesus; and a last salutation is sent to them by Paul. He could not write again, as he was now ready to be offered, and his execution could not long be delayed. But as he writes, he entertains the kindest feelings toward Onesiphorus and his household, and he prays that the Lord will give mercy to the household of Onesiphorus.

He also uses these words in regard to Onesiphorus himself: "The Lord grant unto him to find mercy of the Lord in that day." It is not clear whether Onesiphorus was living, or whether he had died, before Paul wrote this epistle. Different opinions have been held on the subject.

The way in which Paul refers twice to "the household (the Revised Version (British and American) "house") of Onesiphorus," makes it possible that Onesiphorus himself had died. If this is so-but certainty is impossible-the apostle's words in regard to him would be a pious wish, which has nothing in common with the abuses which have gathered round the subject of prayers for the dead, a practice which has no foundation in Scripture.

John Rutherfurd

Greek

3683. Onesiphoros -- "bringing advantage," Onesiphorus, a ...
... 3682, 3683. Onesiphoros. 3684 . "bringing advantage," Onesiphorus, a Christian.
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Onesiphoros Phonetic Spelling ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3683.htm - 6k

Library

Acts of Peter and Andrew.
... And there was a certain rich man in the city, by name Onesiphorus. ... Onesiphorus
says to him: I see that thou art more sensible than he. ...
/.../unknown/acts of peter and andrew/acts of peter and andrew.htm

The Final Arrest
... and the world without. In this trying time Paul's heart was cheered by frequent
visits from Onesiphorus. This warmhearted Ephesian ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 47 the final arrest.htm

2 Timothy i. 13-18
... 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 ...
/.../homily iii 2 timothy i.htm

Acts of Paul and Thecla.
... And a certain man, by name Onesiphorus, hearing that Paul had come to Iconium, went
out to meet him with his children Silas and Zeno, and his wife Lectra, in ...
/.../unknown/acts of paul and thecla/acts of paul and thecla.htm

Note 1
... In the Acts of Paul and Thekla Paul was preaching in the house of Onesiphorus en
meso tes ekklesias (or without the last two words): is the last word a later ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/note 1.htm

The Second Epistle to Timothy
... entrusted to him, 3--- 14, enforcing these appeals by pointing to the deterrent
example of the unfaithful and the stimulating example of Onesiphorus, 15"18. ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the second epistle to timothy.htm

Elucidations.
... 1:18. The context (vers.16-18, and iv.19) strongly supports this view;
Onesiphorus is spoken of as if deceased, apparently. But, as ...
/.../the passion of the holy martyrs perpetua and felicitas/elucidations.htm

Sundry Passages of St. Paul, which Speak of a Spiritual ...
... Even as he says to the Galatians: "Let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due
season we shall reap." [7442] Similarly, concerning Onesiphorus, does he also ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter xxiii sundry passages of st.htm

The Same Hippolytus on the Seventy Apostles.
... 58. Artemas, bishop of Lystra. 59. Clement, bishop of Sardinia. 60. Onesiphorus,
bishop of Corone. 61. Tychicus, bishop of Chalcedon. 62. ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/the same hippolytus on the.htm

I Would Also Say, O Lord My God, what the Following Scripture ...
... Such an earth was the devout Onesiphorus, unto whose house Thou gavest mercy, because
he often refreshed Thy Paul, and was not ashamed of his chain. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xxv i would also.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Onesiphorus

who brings profit

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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.)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Onesiphorus

A Christian friend of Paul at Ephesus, who came to Rome while the apostle was imprisoned there for the faith, and at a time when almost every one had forsaken him. This is supposed to have occurred during Paul's last imprisonment, not long before his death. Having found Paul in bonds, after long seeking him, he assisted him to the utmost of his power, and without regard to danger; for which the apostle implored the highest benedictions on him and his family, 2 Timothy 1:16-18 4:19.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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 Timothy 1:16-18; 4:19).

Thesaurus

Onesiphorus (2 Occurrences)
... Paul expresses a warm interest in him and his household (2 Timothy
1:16-18; 4:19). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ONESIPHORUS. ...
/o/onesiphorus.htm - 11k

Onesiph'orus (2 Occurrences)
Onesiph'orus. Onesiphorus, Onesiph'orus. One-tenth . Multi-Version Concordance ...
2 Timothy 4:19 Salute Prisca and Aquilas, and Onesiphorus' household; (See RSV ...
/o/onesiph'orus.htm - 6k

Ones'imus (2 Occurrences)
Ones'imus. Onesimus, Ones'imus. Onesiphorus . Multi-Version Concordance
Ones'imus (2 Occurrences). ... Onesimus, Ones'imus. Onesiphorus . Reference Bible.
/o/ones'imus.htm - 6k

Oft (18 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often
refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, (Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS ...
/o/oft.htm - 11k

Frequently (28 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus because he
frequently gave me help, and had no feeling of shame because I was in chains; (BBE ...
/f/frequently.htm - 14k

Refreshed (16 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often
refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV ...
/r/refreshed.htm - 11k

Refresh (18 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often
refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, (Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS ...
/r/refresh.htm - 13k

Ephesus (20 Occurrences)
... 12). In his second epistle to Timothy, Paul speaks of Onesiphorus as having
served him in many things at Ephesus (2 Timothy 1:18). ...
/e/ephesus.htm - 24k

Mysia (2 Occurrences)
...Onesiphorus, who was martyred some time between 109 and 114 AD, during the proconsulate
of Adrian, is supposed to have evangelized this part of Asia. ...
/m/mysia.htm - 8k

Priscilla (7 Occurrences)
... that is in their house. (WEB KJV DBY WBS YLT NIV). 2 Timothy 4:19 Salute
Prisca and Aquilas, and Onesiphorus' household; (See NIV). ...
/p/priscilla.htm - 9k

Bible Concordance

Onesiphorus (2 Occurrences)

2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Timothy 4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Onesiphorus

Onesiphorus: A Christian of Ephesus

Related Terms

Onesiph'orus (2 Occurrences)

Ones'imus (2 Occurrences)

Oft (18 Occurrences)

Frequently (28 Occurrences)

Refreshed (16 Occurrences)

Refresh (18 Occurrences)

Ephesus (20 Occurrences)