2 Timothy 1:17
in 2 Timothy 1Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but, when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me
KJV
But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
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This verse in 2 Timothy 1
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But when he was in Rome - What was the employment of Onesiphorus is not known. It may have been that he was a merchant, and had occasion to visit Rome on business. At all events, he was at pains to search out the apostle, and his attention was the more valuable because it cost him trouble to find him.
This site's exposition
The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus
on 2 Timothy 1:16-18
Onesiphorus receives what the deserters did not, a prayer for mercy, because he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, the chapter's third unashamed beat given to a friend rather than to Paul himself, and he sought Paul out in Rome very diligently at real risk. Paul's prayer, the Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day, is a wish for a living man's household rather than a prayer to the dead; whether Onesiphorus himself had already died by the time of writing is an argument from silence the text does not settle, and later prayer for the departed built on this verse reads more into it than the verse itself states. The chapter closes with a personal note, his service at Ephesus already well known to Timothy, ordinary faithfulness recorded as history worth keeping.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
But when he was in Rome, he diligently sought me out and found me. he diligently sought me out. Not only, Paul says, did he not avoid my presence, although there was danger and he encountered me after being imprisoned, but he also sought me …
"The Lord give mercy to 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 diligently and found me." Observe how he everywhere speaks of the shame, and not of the danger, lest Timothy should be alarmed. And yet it was a thing that was full of peril. For he gave offense to Nero by making friends with one of his prisoners. But when he was in Rome, he says, he not only did not shun intercourse with me, but "sought me out very diligently, and found me." "The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well." Such ought the faithful to be. Neither fear, nor threats, nor disgrace, should deter them from assisting one another, standing by them and succoring them as in war. For they do not so much benefit those who are in danger, as themselves, by the service they render to them, making themselves partakers of the crowns due to them. For example, is any one of those who are devoted to God visited with affliction and distress, and maintaining the conflict with great fortitude; whilst thou art not yet brought to this conflict? It is in thy power if thou wilt, without entering into the course, to be a sharer of the crowns reserved for him, by standing by him, preparing his mind, and animating and exciting him. Hence it is that Paul elsewhere says, "Ye have done well that ye did communicate with my affliction. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity." (Phil. iv. 14, Phil. iv. 16.) And how could they that were far off share in the affliction of him that was not with them? How? […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
Not only did he not avoid my misfortune, but he even sought me out and found me: such is courage! such is faith.
But when he was come to Rome, he carefully sought me, as a friend does: if you would get a friend, try him before you take him (Sir 6:7); he that is a friend loves at all times (Prov 17:17).
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But when he was in Rome,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
If you would have mercy then, you must seek for it now of the Lord. It is of and from the Lord that we must have mercy; for, unless the Lord has mercy on us, in vain will be the pity and compassion of men or angels. We are to seek and ask for mercy of the Lord, who is the giver and bestower of it; for the Lord Jesus Christ has satisfied justice, that mercy might be displayed.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
When he was in Rome - Onesiphorus was no doubt an Asiatic, (probably an Ephesian, see below), who had frequent business at Rome; and when he came sought out the apostle, who, it is supposed, had been confined in some close and private prison, (see the preface), so that it was with great difficulty he could find him out. This man had entertained the apostle when he was at Ephesus, and now he sought him out at Rome. Pure love feels no loads. Here was a true friend, one that sticketh closer than a brother.
The words behind it
9 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀλλὰ | alla | But | G235 → | 635 times |
| γενόμενος | genomenos | having arrived | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Ῥώμῃ | rhome | Rome | G4516 → | |
| σπουδαίως | spoudaios | earnestly | G4709 → | |
| ἐζήτησέν | ezetesen | he sought out | G2212 → | |
| με | me | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εὗρεν· | heuren | found [me]; | G2147 → |
ἀλλὰBut
allaG235 →635 times
γενόμενοςhaving arrived
genomenosG1096 →667 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ῬώμῃRome
rhomeG4516 →
σπουδαίωςearnestly
spoudaiosG4709 →
ἐζήτησένhe sought out
ezetesenG2212 →
μεme
meG3165 →1936 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εὗρεν·found [me];
heurenG2147 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
Where this verse is studied
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Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; John Chrysostom, Homily on 2 Timothy 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Timothy.