Today I would like to tell you a story about a man named Ben. Ben was born and raised in Norwich, Connecticut. He received a quality education and was very bright, but his personality was romantic and adventurous, excessively proud and sensitive, governed by impulse rather than by principle. He was noted for his physical strength and beauty, as well as for bravery. At a young age and against his parent’s knowledge, he enlisted in the army. But he quickly became weary of the disciplined military life, went AWOL, returned to Connecticut, and eventually became a successful pharmacist and businessman.
A number of years later when the bells of battle began to ring again, Ben was compelled by the call of duty and decided to reenlist in the army. This time he was serious and he soon distinguished himself in combat and quickly worked his way up the ranks. He was successful in this role until he became embroiled a number of disputes with other high ranking officials and was falsely accused of corruption. This caused him to be overlooked for a promotion to the rank of major general; and five lesser qualified men were chosen over him.
In the midst of Ben’s frustration over political posturing and personal persecutions, the enemy came prowling. The opposing army promised his wealth and power if he would defect and become a spy for them. Stung by the injustice he had suffered, the spirit of desertion overcame him, and he committed the traitorous deed that would blacken his name forever. Who is this traitor named Ben? Benedict Arnold, of course, who infamously defected from the American Continental Army to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.
The name Benedict Arnold is synonymous with the term “traitor”, and he has become one of the three most famous traitors in world history (the other two being Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, and Lebron James, who abandoned the humble Cleveland Cavaliers to join the pompous Miami Heat). Like the American Army, Jesus Christ, and Cleveland Cavaliers fans, some of you have felt the pain of betrayal. You know what it feels like to be abandoned by someone who you thought loved you and would always be loyal to you—perhaps it was a spouse, parent, child, colleague, classmate, patient, friend, or someone else. Are you still suffering today because someone turned their back on you?
The Apostle Paul knew the pain of betrayal; he knew what it was like to be left in the lurch by people who he thought were loyal to him and to the gospel that he preached. But he also knew the comfort of true comradery. Throughout his ministry he experienced the company of both traitors and comrades. And while he was suffering in a Roman prison, he thought about both of these extremes in relation to his young friend Timothy. He deeply desired that Timothy would remain loyal to him and to the gospel of Jesus Christ, despite the difficulties he was facing in Ephesus. So, he mentions the example of three men who Timothy knew personally. Two of them had become traitors and one of them continued to be a true comrade until the very end. It was certainly no secret which example Paul wanted Timothy to follow.
Traitors (15)
In this short section of the letter, Paul reminds Timothy of the fellow Christians who had turned away from him in the Roman province of Asia, where Ephesus (and Timothy) was located. Since Timothy was obviously aware of the situation where these believers had deserted Paul, he doesn’t take the time to explain it and we don’t have any other information about it. It is probable that they deserted him when he was arrested and transferred to prison in Rome. Now when Paul says that “all who are in the province of Asia turned away from me,” he is exaggerating. Certainly, not every single Christian in this province had deserted him, but when such a close group of followers left him, it felt like everyone had abandoned him.
Paul divulges the depth of his pain by specifically mentioning the names of two of the friends who had deserted him: Phygelus and Hermogenes. Again, Paul doesn’t give any background about these men because Timothy already knew them, and this is the only place where they are mentioned in the Bible. The mere fact that Paul highlights these two men by name shows that they had been close personal confidants and partners in gospel ministry together. But for whatever reason, maybe fear, discouragement, or the lure of false doctrines, they turned away from Paul and from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul wanted Timothy to learn from this negative example so that he would not make the same mistake.
This is an extremely sad verse in Scripture. The only time Phygelus and Hermogenes are mentioned in the Bible is for abandoning Paul and the gospel. Can you imagine your legacy being left behind as a traitor? (No pun intended!) Can you imagine your family and friends always remembering you as the one who turned your back on Jesus Christ when faith became difficult? We need to learn from this negative example!
We all face situations in life that tempt us to turn our backs on Jesus Christ and abandon his gospel. Some people abandon the faith because they are fearful of what other people will think or say if they show loyalty to Jesus Christ. Others realize how difficult the Christian life is and become discouraged because God didn’t give them what they wanted. Some people are lured away by some false form of religious faith or a philosophy that contradicts the Christian message. Even though they have been raised in the church and have been taught the truths of the gospel, some people today have fallen into the self-delusional trap of egotism. They say things like: “It’s my life…I can live it however I want! If I put my mind to it…I can do anything! What do I need God for? Why should I bother going to church?”
Are you ever tempted to turn your back on Jesus Christ and go your own way? Let us learn from the example of Phygelus and Hermogenes, the two traitors!
Comrades (16-18)
As I mentioned earlier, Paul knew the pain of betrayal, but he also knew the comfort of comradery. A true comrade is a friend, colleague, and confidant who is always there for you. A comrade is someone who is dependable and loyal despite circumstances. One of Paul’s closest comrades was a man named Onesiphorus. In verse 16, Paul invokes a blessing on the “household” or family of Onesiphorus because he “often refreshed” him and was “not ashamed” of his chains. The fact that Paul should begin his reminder of Onesiphorus with this prayer means that he was not currently with him. Onesiphorus could have been away on some other ministry business, but by asking for present mercy on his household and future mercy for Onesiphorus himself, strongly suggests that he had died in the meantime.
But the memory of Onesiphorus lingers on. His actions in Rome were a model of loyalty. When he first arrived in Rome, he searched for Paul diligently, which shows that Paul was not in a public prison and that finding him required considerable effort. And he was willing to take the risk of regularly visiting one who was a state criminal and who would soon be condemned to die. Under such circumstances, desertions had been plentiful, but not so with Onesiphorus! (Fee 237)
The term “refreshed” refers to both physical and emotional/spiritual care. In ancient Roman prisons, the state did not provide food. If a prisoner was to eat, food had to be brought by a family member or by the mercy of someone else. Onesiphorus sustained Paul’s life by bringing him food and drink, and he encouraged Paul’s spirit as he awaited execution. Onesiphorus had also served faithfully in the church at Ephesus, before he wound up in Rome. His actions proved that he was a true comrade, and Paul wanted Timothy to follow his example!
If it is true that Onesiphorus had already died by the time Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, this passage serves as Onesiphorus’ obituary. An obituary is a death notice that usually contains a short biographical sketch. Today, we usually read obituaries in the newspaper or on the internet.
Have you ever thought about your obituary? Whenever you die, someone will write your obituary! Have you ever wondered what they might say? I guarantee this—the quality of your life will determine the quality of your obituary. How do you want people to remember you? Most obituaries we read are positive, but every once in a while one is negative due to its brutal honesty.
Perhaps you saw the obituary published a few weeks ago that was so shocking that is made national news. Let me read it for you:
Marianne Theresa Johnson-Reddick born Jan 4, 1935 and died alone on Aug. 30, 2013. She is survived by her 6 of 8 children whom she spent her lifetime torturing in every way possible. While she neglected and abused her small children, she refused to allow anyone else to care or show compassion towards them. When they became adults she stalked and tortured anyone they dared to love. Everyone she met, adult or child was tortured by her cruelty and exposure to violence, criminal activity, vulgarity, and hatred of the gentle or kind human spirit.
On behalf of her children whom she so abrasively exposed to her evil and violent life, we celebrate her passing from this earth and hope she lives in the after-life reliving each gesture of violence, cruelty, and shame that she delivered on her children. Her surviving children will now live the rest of their lives with the peace of knowing their nightmare finally has some form of closure.
Most of us have found peace in helping those who have been exposed to child abuse and hope this message of her final passing can revive our message that abusing children is unforgivable, shameless, and should not be tolerated in a “humane society”. Our greatest wish now, is to stimulate a national movement that mandates a purposeful and dedicated war against child abuse in the United States of America.
Will your obituary be like that of Marianne or Onesiphorus? Now is the time to decide!
This passage contrasts the examples of Phygelus and Hermogenes and Onesiphorus? As Paul did with Timothy, he wants us to see the difference. When it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ, will you be a traitor or a comrade?