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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 2 Timothy 1:15 - 1:18
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2Ti_1:15-18
15You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains; 17but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me, and found me— 18the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.
2Ti_1:15 "all who are in Asia" This is a hyperbole. Paul is emphasizing that most/many were afraid and stopped association with him.
▣ "turned away from me" Some of Paul's helpers (cf. 2Ti_4:10; 2Ti_4:16) deserted him in his imprisonment (cf. 2Ti_1:8; 2Ti_1:16) but not necessarily deserted their faith in Christ. This was probably related to Paul's Roman trial.
▣ "Phygelus and Hermogenes" Nothing is known about Phygelus or Hermogenes.
2Ti_1:16-18 2Ti_1:16-18 are an extended prayer (aorist active optative).
2Ti_1:16 "Onesiphorus" This is one believer and his family (or house church) who did not desert Paul (cf. 2Ti_4:19). In unspecified ways (emotionally, financially) this man encouraged Paul while he was in prison, as well as provided a needed ministry in Ephesus (cf. 2Ti_1:18).
2Ti_1:18 "The Lord. . .the Lord" In Hebrew there is a clear distinction between YHWH (Lord) and Adon (Lord, cf. Psa_110:1). In Greek both are translated as kurios. It seems that this prayer is addressed to the Messiah and refers to the "day of YHWH," an OT idiom for the end of time (a day of blessing or judgment). See hyperlink at 2Ti_1:2.
This seems like a strange prayer to us. Some commentators have assumed that Onesiphorus had died, if so this is the only prayer in the Bible on behalf of the dead. Paul was asking that God bless his "house" (i.e., family or house church) because of his faithful ministry (cf. Deu_7:9; Deu_5:10 and the same concept in 1Co_7:14).
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