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.
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.
- BSB May the Lord grant Onesiphorus His mercy on that day. You know very well how much he ministered to me in Ephesus.
- 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.
- 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 unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.
- 2 Tim 1:12For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.
- 1 Tim 1:3As I urged you when I was going into Macedonia, stay at Ephesus that you might command certain men not to teach a different doctrine,
- 1 Pet 1:10Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
- 2 Tim 1:16May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain,
- 1 Kgs 17:20He cried to Yahweh, and said, “Yahweh my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?”
- Rom 3:23–24for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
- 1 Cor 16:8But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost,
- Matt 25:34–40Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
- Luke 1:72to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
- Rev 2:1“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things:
- Ps 130:3–4If you, Yah, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
- 2 Tim 4:12But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
- 1 Th 2:19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
- Luke 8:3and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others; who served them from their possessions.
- Acts 19:1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples.
- Rom 9:15–23For he said 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, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
- 2 Cor 9:1It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,
- Eph 2:4But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
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