You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
17 But, [alla] when he was [ginomai] in [en] Rome, [Rhome] he sought [zeteo] me [me] out [zeteo] very
diligently, [spoudaioteron] and [kai] found [heurisko] me. KJV-Interlinear
17 but when
he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me, and found me — NASB
Friends or no friends. Courage or no courage. Character or no character.
Paul was in prison in Rome and still, his friend from the previous verse, Onesiphorus, searched diligently for Paul.
The word for diligently, 'spoudaioteron,' means to pursue something with extreme earnest.
Onesiphorus knew of Pauls plight. He could have easily stayed in Asia Miner and not gone to Rome. A trip such as that, back in those days, was more than a simple trip we might pursue in our current day, but quite an under taking. That trip would have required some planning, lots of walking or riding by horse but most likely by donkey, and by boat.
It would have required staying in several different places during the course of several days or weeks. It would have required being in new and uncertain places, on docks, in towns, and such. And, once in Rome, there were no GPS assistant things, no phones, no maps, and information would only be obtained through the constant asking of questions of authorities.
This asking of questions would certainly have placed Onesiphorus at risk. Remember that getting involved with Paul, especially now that he was in prison, was perceived to be risky for ones own life.
And yet he search and searched and searched throughout Rome. Apparently it was not an easy task to find someone who was in jail (in this case house arrest), in a city of that size back then.
And, he was under no obligation to do so.
Other than in this passage, we know almost nothing about Onesiphorus. We read a great deal about the other apostles, the other people in Pauls life, but we also know that, from this account, that there were most likely many other people associated with Paul throughout his life. Most of whom we know nothing about.
So, he stands here throughout the ages, as a testimony of one who was loyal to truth, not only to Paul, but to the scriptures, and in fear of nothing. At least not as the common man fears.
Doctrine gives growth. Doctrine produces confidence through knowledge and wisdom. Doctrine provides orientation to life and reality. And as such, you can know that your life depends nothing on anything in this world.
Just look around. In this country alone, in just the last three years, unemployment has doubled, debt has shot off the scale, productivity has diminished. Who can you find that is certain and confident about the tomorrows?
And in the last three years alone, from around the world, from Morocco to Syria, to Greece to Spain to now England, there is trouble brewing.
Friendships will be put to the test, but moreover, dedication to ones own spiritual life and daily study, will be put to the test, perhaps as never before in your life.
That is when God observes the spiritual muscle in your soul, and just how you are going to conduct yourself during the hard times in this world.
It is easy to observe others from afar and be tough yourself, but when the fight comes to your very own door, then what will your conduct be?
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Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
