Phygellus and Hermogenes vs. Onesiphorus
2 Timothy 1:15-17
"This you know,
that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are
Phygellus and Hermogenes.
The Lord grant mercy to the household of
Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed
of my chain;
but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found
me."
At the outset of Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he pleaded, “...do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel…” (2 Timothy 1:8). Later, in the same chapter, Paul contrasts two sets of characters.
The first set includes Phygellus and Hermogenes. Very little to nothing is known about these two individuals besides the citation here. Paul simply mentions them as two prominent individuals who turned their back on the apostle after his arrest and imprisonment for preaching the gospel.
The latter set of individuals mentioned in verses 15-17 is “the household of Onesiphorus.” This family offered warmth to Paul when so many were turning a cold shoulder. The comparison of these two sets of people can offer some useful lessons for us in our Christian walk.
The first lesson we can learn is one of mercy. Paul was suffering for the gospel’s sake. Jesus predicted such tribulation in this world so we might expect it (John 16:33). Paul once taught the disciples after a persecution-filled first missionary journey, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). With this in mind, what should be a fellow Christian’s attitude toward one who is “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matthew 5:10)?
Clearly, the message Paul sends by His statement, “The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus…” is that our mercy will be rewarded with the Lord’s mercy. This lesson is taught in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). James wrote, “...judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.” (2:13).
This principle is exemplified by Jesus in Matthew 25. In this passage, Jesus refers to His sheep as those on “His right hand” (25:34). He will say to them, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…for I was in prison and you came to Me” (25:34,36). The mercy a fellow brother shows to His persecuted brother in Christ is rewarded (25:40). If such is the case, who has a greater hope of eternal reward—Hermogenes and Phygellus or the household of Onesiphorus? Based on these Scriptural citations, the answer is obvious.
The second lesson we may learn is that of opportunity. The trials of others can be a great opportunity for our love to shine. Yet, some view the trials of others as a burden. They want nothing to do with others’ struggles and turn their back upon others when they fall upon hard times. On the other hand, good people are not stopped by hardship but can be often motivated by it. The selfish pair turn away from Paul, but Onesiphorus sees it as an opportunity.
Onesiphorus uses another’s misfortune as an opportunity for encouragement. He is “not ashamed” of Paul’s chain—the symbol of his great burden. In fact, Onesiphorus travels to Rome (a long trip from Ephesus) to encourage Paul. He does not give up on Paul but searches for him until he finds him and so that he might attend to him. Do you have brothers and sisters facing unusual and difficult burdens? Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Turning your shoulder is a refusal to be like our Master, who bore our burdens.
A third lesson may be one of character. What does it say of the character of Hermogenes and Phygellus as they turn from Paul as he is imprisoned? Some might say they were embarrassed of Paul. Yet, even deeper than that, they were truly embarrassed of the gospel— the reason why Paul was in prison.
We should not be ashamed of a vocal Christian who stands for the truth despite the consequences in their workplace, classroom, family or nation. Instead, like Onesiphorus, embrace them for being bold enough to state the truth despite the consequences. Like Paul, may we all say, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16).
January 2008