Onesiphorus

Onesiphorus is named in two passages of 2 Timothy, both blessing his household. The first remembers his repeated kindness to Paul and his refusal to be ashamed of Paul's imprisonment; the second sends greeting to his house alongside Prisca and Aquila.

Refreshing Paul in chains

The first passage prays mercy on his house and grounds the prayer in his actions: "The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus: for he often refreshed me, and wasn't ashamed of my chain" (2 Tim 1:16). The next clause adds where the help was given: "but, when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me" (2 Tim 1:17). The two verses pair a habit ("often refreshed") with a single decisive search in Rome.

Greeting to his house

The closing salutations of the letter return to him: "Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus" (2 Tim 4:19). The greeting is to the "house" — the same household named in chapter 1.