<p>1:16- see on Mt. 5:7.</p><p><i>The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain</i>- The family or house church? of one faithful individual were blessed for his singular kindness and grace shown to Paul. Blessing and the reverse often comes upon third parties as a result of the spiritual position of another. Thus the paralyzed man was forgiven his sins for the sake of the faith of his friends (Mk. 2:5). Association with prisoners has never been an easy thing to do, and Onesiphorus was unashamed of association with Paul. The implication could be that the Rome ecclesia generally were ashamed of such association. This brother's example was cited as an encouragement to Timothy whose sensitive, timid spirit was concerned at being ashamed for the Gospel and of Paul personally (:8).</p><p>2 Tim. 1:16 records Paul praying that the Lord would <i>give mercy</i> to the house of Onesiphorus; yet the same phrase is used in :18 about receiving mercy at judgment day. Here it seems that the whole household of Onesiphorus is to be granted mercy, at that day, because of his faithfulness. Does this imply that some will be in the Kingdom only due to the efforts of a third party?</p>