1:16

May the Lord grant mercy: Paul here prays that Jehovah grant mercy to “the household of Onesiphorus.” While visiting Rome, Onesiphorus put forth great effort to find Paul in prison, showing him abundant kindness and mercy. (2Ti 1:17; see study note on he did not become ashamed of my prison chains in this verse.) So Paul’s prayer was in line with Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount: “Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.” (Mt 5:7 and study note) In the Hebrew Scriptures as well as in the Christian Greek Scriptures, Jehovah is described as a God who is “merciful” and “rich in mercy.”​—Ex 34:6; Eph 2:4; compare 2Ti 1:18.

Onesiphorus: This faithful Christian was outstanding in the way he loyally and selflessly supported Paul, who praises him for “all the services” he rendered earlier in Ephesus. It seems likely that Timothy knew him. The phrase “when he [Onesiphorus] was in Rome” implies that Onesiphorus had traveled there, but the account does not say whether he did so in order to see Paul or for another reason. (2Ti 1:17, 18) Paul here asks for God’s blessing on the household of Onesiphorus; later, as the apostle closes this letter, he sends them his greetings.​—2Ti 4:19.

he did not become ashamed of my prison chains: Onesiphorus stood in stark contrast with the two men Paul mentioned in the preceding verse. They, along with others in the province of Asia, had abandoned Paul in his hour of need. (2Ti 1:15, 17, 18) It is possible that those who visited Paul during his second and final imprisonment risked being imprisoned or even being put to death. In any case, Onesiphorus refused to give in to fear or shame. Instead, he often refreshed Paul, visiting again and again to bring what help and comfort he could. The expression “prison chains” can refer to Paul’s imprisonment in a general sense. However, it is likely that Paul was literally bound in chains, a situation that made Onesiphorus’ services even more welcome.