2tim1v15-18

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READ: 2 TIMOTHY 1:1-18 PASSAGE: v15-18 [SERIES #5]

This passage brings us into contact with another of Paul’s friends
He carries the name of Onesiphorus = profitable
He is well named as this short passage shows
The Lord wants us all to be profitable Christians
I accept there is a parable Jesus taught which teaches us that even at our very best we are all unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10)
Even the mightiest Christian heroes all confessed to being such
But our unprofitableness is only Godward i.e. we do not increase God’s being or cause or power by our actions
While it is true that God may use us to further His cause, yet we are but the clay vessels in which the treasure is to be found

However, we may be of profit (under God) to other Christians
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10)
If you are doing good to Christians – then it is profitable for them to be in your company
They leave your presence a lot richer than when they entered
This ought to be done as opportunity arises
Not when we feel like it or are so disposed or when it suits
But when the opportunity comes our way

Certainly this was the case with Onesiphorus towards Paul
4 things which we can glean from this remarkable Christian

1) THE ATTITUDE HE HAD:

A/ Important/natural that we should look here first
We do so for two main reasons:

[i] Naturally speaking, this should come first
The attitude is the mainspring of the action
If the attitude is wrong – everything is wrong
If the attitude is right – then the action can be right
(True: we might be unable/perform, but at least be willing)
[ii] Certainly Godward, this is always the case
God would rather than you were unable and willing than to be able and yet unwilling – or merely doing something without heart
The Lord Jesus indicted the Jews of His day over their worship
They drew near with their lips – they could perform – but their heart was far from Him and he blasted them as hypocrites

B/ Onesiphorus was no hypocrite
His attitude seen/words: He was not ashamed of my chain (v16)
Humanly speaking i.e. his reputation, his family, his business etc.,
He had every reason to keep his head down though and (at least) be quiet about his association with the Apostle Paul
Paul at this time was being cast/world in a very poor light
Passage itself (v15) tells us about his standing in all Asia
We know also that he had trouble in Corinth w/false teachers
He was cast into prison as a troublemaker by the civil authorities
At best – he would have been viewed as a religious fanatic
The world smiled condescendingly towards him – soft cop
Five times he endured the Roman lash – rough cop
His standing in the opinion polls wasn’t that high

Yet Onesiphorus wasn’t in the least ashamed of him
Why should he be?
Let us first of all put the world’s perspective under scrutiny
Jesus told His apostles on the night in which He was betrayed:
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19)
Paul was not of the world and therefore the world hated Him

But God honoured Him in so many ways
Called him to be an Apostle to the Gentiles
He sustained and blessed His ministry
Even in the prison – Paul was still being mightily used
(This letter and others also still came by the pen/inspiration)
Even from the prison cell, Paul was able to write:
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the
furtherance of the gospel; (Philippians 1:12)
Therefore it never crossed Onesiphorus’ mind to be ashamed

C/ His attitude was right because it was moulded/the word/God
This is the yardstick by which we judge all the issues:
Although the Psalmist was speaking about himself, in 119:6, yet the same rule applies when Onesiphorus spoke of Paul:
Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Paul wasn’t in prison as a criminal (a real cause/shame) but he was in prison solely as a Christian – and this was something over which God commanded him to rejoice!
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)

10/10 Onesiphorus for attitude

2) THE ACTIONS HE TOOK:

A/ It is not attitude vs. action
We need both if we would do the will of God
Little use, Onesiphorus sitting/house with nice thoughts of Paul
No! As he thought in his heart – so did he (Proverbs 23:7)
His thoughts were the spring of his actions

B/ Therefore when in Rome, he sought Paul out
Went round the various prisons until he found the man/God
It was not easy for him to do so
I don’t suppose that the greatest/records were kept
I can’t see the Roman authorities being particularly helpful
He sought Paul out – it required a great effort
Indeed, the effort required is ominously described as being: “very diligent”
Many a lesser man would have given up a lot earlier
“Well, I tried…I made a few enquiries…etc.”
But not Mr Profitable here – He sought Paul out very diligently
Word sought out is used in other situations to show the diligence

[i] Herod when he sought out the infants to murder them (1:20)
[ii] Devil as a roaring lion seeking/devour (1 Peter 5:8)
[iii] Used by Jesus of those who arrested Him: Whom seek ye?
In better context, (the word itself is neutral)
[iv] Used of the Good Shepherd seeking out the missing sheep

None of these references compromise the diligence which Onesiphorus showed in looking for and finding imprisoned Paul

C/ When he tracked Paul down to the prison cell, it was not merely to say “Hi”
Rather did he “oft refresh Paul” (v16)
He came again and again and said/did things that helped Paul in his very trying circumstances so that Paul was refreshed

You can picture the cell door opening on a regular basis and this diligent and beloved brother being ushered in to the prisoner
Perhaps Paul could even see him coming from his cell window
Or hear his voice down the corridor getting louder as he approached the cell where Paul lay chained
Just the very thought that this great brother in Christ was coming lifted the very human spirits of the imprisoned Apostle
How quickly the time would have passed

[i] I’m sure that they would’ve read the Bible together
And discussed it and swapped thoughts and meditations

[ii] I’m sure they would have prayed together
Peter and John went up together/temple at the hour/prayer
Well – this prison cell proved to be no less a good place/pray

[iii] I’m sure they would have praised God together (song?)
This is what Paul/Barnabas did when they were incarcerated

[iv] I’m sure they would have regaled each other with their own experiences in Christian life and service and that of others

[v] I’m sure that Onesiphorus would have looked after Paul’s physical needs – made sure that he had sufficient clothing and food and personal effects
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (James 2:15-16)

D/ The reality is he ministered unto Paul in many things (v18)
This he did at Ephesus and so was very well known to Timothy
He had been obviously doing Timothy favours for a long time
It was a long way from Ephesus to Rome
But both cities are mentioned in relation to this man’s works

The world has got today a smaller place even than then
The Romans then had built their great road system
Travel was easier than it had been before
But it was no picnic either
Now, we live in a day when travel is within reach of nearly everyone and we are in a better situation to be able to help
Let us do what we can for the people/God where ever they are

E/ Onesiphorus evidently knew the worth of Paul’s work
He himself had been profited by it
He had studied Paul’s letters diligently
He had been challenged by Paul’s faith and zeal
Now, it was all coming back to be of benefit of to Paul
What seeds we sow when we do a work for God

Onesiphorus was the man whom God raised up to help Paul
I do not doubt that others did so
Indeed, we read of Roman Christians who proved to be of great help to Paul in relation to his prison experiences
And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. (Acts 28:15)
Many other individuals are mentioned elsewhere (Romans 16)
But here it is Onesiphorus who is mentioned in the despatches

3) THE ADVANTAGES HE REAPED:

A/ Twice Paul requested that he might find mercy from the Lord
This request is a pretty strong/necessary one

[i] We know sinners are saved by appealing to the mercy/God
Cry of the Publican/temple: God be mercy to me the sinner
That cry sent him home justified rather than the Pharisee
But Paul isn’t thinking of getting his benefactor saved

[ii] Even converted people need the continual mercy/God
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; (2 Corinthians 4:1)
God’s mercies towards us are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23)
They come to us with our daily bread
Paul opens this epistle (as he did other epistles) with the prayer Timothy would receive grace, mercy and peace from the Lord (1:1)

It is not amiss to seek either mercy for ourselves or for others
Here, Paul seeks to repay the great kindnesses shown to him by seeking another great kindness – seeking mercy for his friend

B/ Mercy is sought not only for Onesiphorus, but also for his household who are mentioned again (4:19) where they are saluted
Evidently Christians as well
Therefore when Onesiphorus did what he did, he had the full backing of his household – losing his company with some not inconsiderable risks as he trekked to Rome or wherever and bore the cost of ministering unto Paul

Here is a definite case of where a man’s foes are not those of his own household and so great spiritual advances can be made
What a challenge then if we are in a similar blessed situation
This man went the extra mile and it caused his benefactor to earnestly invoke (x2) the mercies/God on his family
What good could only come from the prayers/Apostle here
If giving a cup of cold water to a prophet will ensure a prophet’s
reward, then how much more what this great man did to Paul?

C/ Mercy was sought for him in relation to a special time
We do not believe that this mercy sought was for his salvation
This was something that had been sorted out for ever when Onesiphorus was first converted and would never be revoked
Onesiphorus was as safe for heaven as if already there

But in seeking mercy, Paul eyes those rewards already spoken of
Although God rewards the diligent Christian – yet never let him think that he deserves such a reward from the hand of God
Everything received from God comes to us on the basis of mercy
He has promised a crown for the soul-winner
He has promised a crown for the over-comer
One as well for those who love the thought of His appearing
Yet the only basis of receiving them is the mercy of God

It is a lovely prayer for Paul to offer up for his friend
Paul himself was unable to repay Onesiphorus
Stripped of all his earthly goods by the Roman authorities
Now sitting in the condemned cell
He has probably only a few rags on his back
Might even have a few books and parchments
But this is a greater reward
Better that one prays for us this prayer (and sees it answered) than to be rewarded with earthly things

That was the problem of the Pharisees
They went for the earthly here and now bubbly rewards
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (Matthew 6:5)

What mercy could they expect in that day?
But here was a man who shunned the earthly rewards/men and readily identified himself with the persecuted preacher of righteousness – what a reward mercy would bring him

4) THE APOSTATES HE SHAMED: v15

Onisphorus (an individual) is contrasted here with many others

A/ Maybe the word ‘apostate’ is too strong a word to use here
Some like to soften the blow by pointing out that these people turned away from Paul – not necessarily from the Lord
Same again for Demas (4:10) – he forsook Paul
Are we looking here at Peter’s or are we looking at Judas’?

We simply do not know and it would be amiss to judge from afar
Like to think the lesser of the two
If God has no delight in the death/wicked – neither should we

B/ But nevertheless, even with going for the lesser blow, a great doubt has been created here by their drawing back
It is something that we should ever like to contemplate
Come to die with a great testimony
There is no shame in being identified with the cause/God even when its chief spokesmen are imprisoned or martyred
Let us not be fair weather Christians
Be an Onesiphorus rather than a Phygellus and a Hermogenes

There are no doubts about Onesiphorus
In his dying letter, this Apostle records his thanks for every remembrance of him
Many names are necessarily omitted
Interesting that no other Apostle is mentioned
(That doesn’t mean that they should be disparaged/any way)
But Onesiphorus and his godly deeds are mentioned
He left behind a testimony that he loved God
May we do likewise

THE END

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