The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Timothy — Section 18

or their earthly head on whom it devolved t,o provide for them, to assist and oounael especially the beginners in life. The Lord mercifully make up for them what they had ln~t. Would this prayer return from heaven unanswered? Would not this kindly n·mem brance of them, read in their desolate home, bring good cheer to their hearts and he an influence for good in all their future life? Would it not also be the mea~a of raising up friends for them? 2. Interest in the living fou,uud on tlMI past kindma of the~- "For be oft refres?~d me, and was not ashamed !3f my chiLin; but, when he was rn Rome, he sought me d1hgently, and found me." This was after hi■ first answer apparently during his second imprisonment, when a.waiting his second answer. Pe.ui leRned very much on human sympathy. On one occasion be said, "The Lord that comfortetb them that are cast down, comforted me by the coming of Titus." So the Lord refreshed him by those visits of Onesipborus. 'l'bis friend was true to bis name, he was a real help-bringer-bringer of comfort and strength to the great warrior who~ battles were nearly over. He was a helper in presence of difficulties. He was not ashamed of bis chain, i.e. braved a.II the dangers connected with bis being regarded as the prisoner's friend. There was difficulty of access to him, such as there bad not been during the first imprisonment, when be he.d his own hired house, and received-all that ea.me to him; but Onesipborus sought him all the more diligently that he knew of his unhefriended condition, and overcame all official hindrances. In the strange workincr of providence, Onesiphorus came to bis end before Paul, but his good deeds lived afte~ him, and caused him to be remembered by Paul, and in that form which, had he been conscious of what was taking place on earth, would have been most pleasing to Onesi- pborus. And this was not to be wondered at. Onesiphorus loved his home circle-this is an element in the case; but it did not absorb all his attention. He had a place in bis heart for friends, e.nd was ready to render them services. And this was acting more truly for the interests of his loved ones than if he had selfishly confined hie attention to them. For when be was gone-taken away e.t a time when be was greatly needed by hi■ children-there were those who were their well-wishers for the father's sake. There we.s the missionary, by wborn there had been so much benefit, invoking his bless- ing on them. The psalmist says, "I have boon young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." And this can be explained without bringing in a specii;.I miracle. Indeed, the psalmist so explains it in the follow- ing verse: "He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and hie seed is blessed." That is to say, by his good deeds when he is alive, he raises up friends for his children when he is dead. 3. Interest in departed friends ahown in piow wishes with reapect to their futvre. '"l'he Lord grant unto him to find mercy of the Lord in that day." The following is to be noted e.s the teaching of Luther: "We he.ve no command from God to pray for the dead, and therefore no one can sin who does not pray for them. For in what God has neither commanded nor forbidden, no man can sin. Yet because God be.a not granted us to know the state of the soul, and we must be uncertain about it, thou dost not sin that thou prayest for the dead, but in snch wise tbe.t thou leave it in doubt and say thus, 'If this soul be in that state that thou mayest yet help it, I pre.y thee to be gracious unto it.' Therefore if thou be.st prayed once or thrice, thou shouldest believe that thou art heard, and pray no more, lest thou tempt God." Beyond that Paul does not go. He follows Onesipborus into the next world, a.nd, when he thinks of him coming to the settling for what his earthly life he.d been, be devoutly breathes the wish that be may be mercifully dealt with. Such e.n expression of feeling is not to be forbidden us as we think of departed friends going forward to judgment; it ia to be found in inscriptions in the catacombs. But it has no connection with e. belief in purgatory, e.nd is very different from the formal inculcation of prayers for the dead. 4. Refe,·fflCIJ to 'l'imothy aa to services rendered by Unesiphorus at Ephesus. " And in bow many things he ministered at Ephesus, thou knowest very well." This was additional to servioee rendered by Onesiphorus to the apostle at Rome. He he.d not mentioned it before, becawie it had been within the sphere of Timothy's own observation. But be brings it in now, e.s what was fitted to support the charge of conat&Doy he ia laying on 'fimoth7.-R. F. cm. u. 1-26.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 19