Verse Lens · Concise explanation
2 Timothy 1:16 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 16. 16The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse asks mercy for Onesiphorus's household because he repeatedly refreshed the prisoner without shame.
Read It With
- 2 Timothy 1:15–18
Read 2 Timothy 1:16 with 1:15–18. This verse asks mercy for Onesiphorus's household because he repeatedly refreshed the prisoner without shame. The complete unit establishes this movement: The writer reports abandonment by people in Asia and remembers Onesiphorus for repeated refreshment, lack of shame, diligent searching in Rome, and earlier service at Ephesus.
Why This Verse Appears Here
Concrete examples show what shame and loyalty look like before Timothy is asked to reproduce faithful ministry. Within that movement, this verse asks mercy for Onesiphorus's household because he repeatedly refreshed the prisoner without shame.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“oft refreshed me”
In plain language: Repeated practical relief embodied loyalty.
asks mercy for Onesiphorus's household because he repeatedly refreshed the prisoner without shame. Mercy becomes visible through repeated care for stigmatized people.
Why it matters: The wording helps identify this verse's distinct contribution to the complete unit.
How certain? strongWhat Remains True
Mercy becomes visible through repeated care for stigmatized people.
How It Can Shape Life
- Offer consent-respecting material and relational support to prisoners and families.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 2 Timothy 1:15–18 — Desertion Is Contrasted with Onesiphorus's CareSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 2 Timothy 1:15–18, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, morphology targets, and base text for original-language discussion.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/2Tim.txt, 1:15–18
Open the 2 Timothy Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 2 Timothy with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual alternatives, and interpretive notes.
Exact location: NET Bible official 2 Timothy PDF, 1:15–18 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 2 Timothy PDF ↗