May the Lord grant Onesiphorus His mercy on that day. You know very well how much he ministered to me in Ephesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB (the Lord grant to him to find the Lord’s mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.
- NASB the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.
- NLT May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul prays that Onesiphorus may find the Lord's mercy on the last day, recalling all his service at Ephesus. Faithful service is remembered and will be met with mercy.
Overview
Paul commends Onesiphorus's earlier ministry in Ephesus, known well to Timothy, and asks God's mercy for him 'in that day' of judgment. Some debate whether Onesiphorus had died, since Paul prays for his household and for him personally, but Scripture does not settle this, and the verse should not be pressed beyond a heartfelt prayer for mercy. The emphasis falls on God's gracious remembrance of devoted service.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Heb 6:10For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- 2 Tim 1:12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
- 1 Tim 1:3As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines
- 1 Pet 1:10Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully,
- 2 Tim 1:16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.
- 1 Kgs 17:20Then he cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, by causing her son to die?”
- Rom 3:23–24for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
- 1 Cor 16:8But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
- Matt 25:34–40Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
- Luke 1:72to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
- Rev 2:1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
- Ps 130:3–4If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?
- 2 Tim 4:12Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus.
- 1 Th 2:19After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
- Luke 8:3Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.
- Acts 19:1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
- Rom 9:15–23For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
- Luke 1:78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
- 2 Cor 9:1Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.
- Eph 2:4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
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