- Guard the good deposit entrusted to you: God has entrusted Timothy the good deposit which means: the Gospel and truth of God. Timothy needed faithfulness to keep it. Similarly God has given us many good things along with the Gospel and truth of God. He also has given us family relationships, time, talents, resources, education and so on. We must be faithful to keep those good things in a way that brings glory and credit to God. But many people would be faithful as long it is beneficial to them. Once they lose their benefits, they no longer remain faithful and try to avoid them. When the Church supports them, provides them financial and other resources, many people are very faithful to the Church and activities of the church. But after they cease, they desert the church and the pastor. True faithfulness is that when it costs something to remain faithful.
- Guard with the help of Holy Spirit: This is the key to faithfulness. God requires faithfulness from us. Unless we walk in the Spirit and are filled with the Holy Spirit, we cannot be faithful to the Word.
An example of unfaithful men: (1:15):
Nothing is known of Phygelus and Hermogenes except this single reference.
It is quite possible that these two were the leaders in the church who opposed Paul. The province of Asia in that day comprised the Roman districts of Lydia, Mysia, Caria, and Phrygia. Paul was forbidden to minister in this area on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:6), but on his third journey, he stayed nearly three years in Ephesus, the capital of Asia, and evangelized the entire area (Acts 19; 20:31). The seven churches of Asia were all in this area (Rev 1:4,11). When Paul was arrested in Rome in his first arrest, the Asian believers did not stand by him, instead they were ashamed of him which amounts to that they were even ashamed of Christ. It was certainly a dark hour for Paul. Demas had forsaken him (4:10). His other associates had been sent to distant places of ministry. False doctrines were spreading in the church (2:17-18). How Paul would have loved to be free to preach the Word and defend the faith – but he was in a Roman prison. It was up to Timothy to get the job done. It is a terrible thing to have ones name recorded in God’s word as an example of unfaithfulness.
A faithful companion: (1:16-18):
In contrast to the negative Christians (so called Christians), Paul brings out a wonderful man Onesiphorus, an example of faith. He is so different from those unfaithful people. He searched hard for Paul. ‘Onesiphorus’ means help-bringer and he lived up to his name. We can give some of his wonderful characters or attitudes:
- He was faithful: He was faithful to Paul to Paul. Onesiphorus travelled from Ephesus to Rome and diligently looked for Paul so he might minister to the prisoner’s needs. Perhaps he was a deacon in Ephesian church. It seemed difficult for him to find his former pastor (1:17). Perhaps some of the Roman Christians were still opposed to Paul as they had been during his first imprisonment. Perhaps the Roman officials were not cooperative and did not want their choice prisoner to receive any help. In his first imprisonment, Paul was in his own house i.e. house arrest (Acts 28:30); but now he was in a Roman prison under careful guard. He finally located Paul and risked his own life to stand with him and help him.
- He refreshed Paul: He a great blessing to Paul and worked to refresh the apostle who did so much for other people.
- Was not ashamed of Paul’s chains: He was a true friend when Paul was in prison. He stayed there to assist him. He was not ashamed of Paul’s chains.
- A sacrificial life: Some students believe that Onesiphorus was also arrested and possibly executed. They base this on the fact that Paul greeted the “household of Onesiphorus” in (4:19), but not the man himself. Also, Paul asked for present mercies for the household, but future mercies for Onesiphorus (1:16,18).
- Entire house faithful to the Lord: Onesiphorus was a faithful minister, along with his household. Since Timothy had pastored the Ephesian church, he would know this choice saint. Paul simply says to Timothy: “you know very well of Onesiphorus” (2:18b)