Onesiphorus

Saint Onesiphorus the Apostle was one of the Seventy disciples of the Lord and a disciple of the Apostle Paul, from Ephesus, mentioned in the Second Epistle to Timothy, where Paul praises his hospitality, kindness and courage. According to tradition he was bishop at Colophon and at Corinth and died a martyr at Parium on the shore of the Hellespont.

In the New Testament

The name Onesiphorus means "one who brings profit". In the Second Epistle to Timothy, written by Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome, in the time of Nero's persecution, the apostle says that Onesiphorus sought him out diligently and found him, refreshed him often and was not ashamed of his chains. Paul contrasts him with those in Asia who had deserted him in those days. He sends a blessing on the house of Onesiphorus and recalls the help the man had given him earlier in Ephesus, which Timothy, who shepherded the Church at Ephesus, knew well. Onesiphorus made a journey of nearly a thousand miles, across three large bodies of water, from one continent to another, from Ephesus to Rome, specifically to seek out and comfort Paul in prison. Paul's praise is significant, for it was written shortly before his death as a final encouragement to Timothy.

Some scholars think that Onesiphorus had already died when the epistle was written, because Paul speaks of him in the past tense, wishes blessing on his house and mercy for him "in that day". Toward the end of the same epistle, Paul sends greetings to "Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus", again distinguishing the situation of Onesiphorus from that of those still living. Catholics regard Paul's words about Onesiphorus as one of the earliest examples of prayer for the departed.

According to tradition

According to Orthodox tradition, Saint Onesiphorus was one of the Seventy disciples chosen and sent by Jesus to preach, some time after the choosing of the Twelve apostles (Luke 10:1). He was bishop at Colophon in Asia Minor and then at Corinth. He is said to have come to Parium, near Ephesus, on the shore of the Hellespont, to preach to the pagans. There he was seized and taken to an idol temple. Because he refused to burn incense to the gods, he was bound together with his servant Porphyrius to wild horses and dragged along the ground. The accounts, however, seem to confuse him with another Onesiphorus, who suffered in the time of Diocletian. Both the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches hold that he died a martyr at Parium.

Commemoration

The Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Onesiphorus on 7 September, and together with the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles on 4 January. He is also remembered on 8 December. The Catholic Church celebrates him on 6 September. He should not be confused with Onesiphorus of Ephesus, the martyr who suffered with Porphyrius in the time of Diocletian and is commemorated on 9 November.