Reward for Identifying with the Persecuted – 2 Timothy 1:15-18

In Matthew 25, Jesus describes the future judgment of the nations that he will conduct when he returns to earth.  He will separate everyone into groups labeled the sheep and the goats, and the basis of their judgment will be how they treated the sick, the imprisoned, the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, and the naked.  He says, when you helped them, you helped Me.  Though the imprisoned here could be those who broke the law, they more likely include those who were imprisoned for their faith.  Paul here makes Timothy aware of two goats and a sheep who responded poorly and well to his imprisonment.

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.  (2 Timothy 1:15-18 ESV)

Paul now turns to more personal matters.  Since his arrest in Rome Paul has been abandoned by Phygelus and Hermogenes, two who apparently had been companions of Paul in ministry, but were now ashamed or afraid to be associated with him.

But one man stood out in his support of Paul, Onesiphorus, who made a trip to Rome to find Paul and minister to him while in bonds.   Timothy was aware of Onesiphorus’ ministry where he was, in Ephesus, and Paul wanted to testify to his continued faithfulness.

May the Lord have mercy on all who show mercy to those in need.  May we never be ashamed or afraid to minister to those in need, especially those suffering for the sake of the gospel.