2 Timothy 1:15-18 (ESV)
You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
Timothy was the believer Paul left in Ephesus to care for the needs of the church as their pastor. Paul apparently knew his grandmother and mother:
2 Timothy 1:5 (ESV)
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
Paul is giving Timothy instructions on how to defend the faith as the pastor of this church. It was a church planted right in the middle of some of the worse practices of the ancient world. Ephesus was a corrupt city and full of idolatry. When Paul tells Timothy, in the above verses, that Phygelus and Hermogenes have turned away from the faith, you can be assured that there was much in Ephesus to turn toward. But one man did not fall back into the ways of Ephesus. Onesiphorus was a man who stood along side Paul. Paul commends him to Timothy. Paul reminds Timothy of the service and encouragement rendered by Onesiphorus. Paul says of this fellow believer that he often refreshed Paul, while Paul was in chains. Those words literally mean to cool off. Paul asks twice that God would grant mercy to Onesiphorus. Those who do service for Christ and the church are to have God’s mercy. Paul prays for that. When we see others serving in a way that refreshes the saints we ought to pray as Paul prayed for this man. When we see others in the church doing great things for God we ought to complain that they could do those things is a different way (our way), but that God would give them mercy. Pray for mercy on God’s servants.
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