The Meaning of 2 Timothy 4:19 Explained

2 Timothy 4:19

KJV: Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

YLT: Salute Prisca and Aquilas, and Onesiphorus' household;

Darby: Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.

ASV: Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Salute  Prisca  and  Aquila,  and  the household  of Onesiphorus. 

What does 2 Timothy 4:19 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul sent greetings to his old friends Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila who then lived in Ephesus (cf. Acts 18:2; Acts 18:18; Acts 18:26; Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19). He also greeted the loyal family of Onesiphorus of whom he had written earlier ( 2 Timothy 1:16).

Context Summary

2 Timothy 4:13-22 - "the Lord Stood By Me"
The winter was approaching, and the Apostle would be glad of his cloak amid the damp of the Mamertine prison. Evidently his arrest under Nero's orders had been so sudden and peremptory that he was not allowed to go into his lodgings for this and other possessions, such as the books mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:13.
He had made his first appearance before Nero, and was expecting a further appearance to receive his sentence. But the Lord was with him, and his comfort was that he had proclaimed the gospel to the highest audience in the world of his time. His one thought always was that the gospel should be heard by men, whether they would hear or forbear. If that were secured, he did not count the cost to himself. The lion may stand for Nero or Satan. See Luke 22:31; 1 Peter 5:8. From 2 Timothy 4:20 we gather that miraculous gifts of healing, of which Paul was possessed, may not be used merely for friendship's sake, but only where the progress of the gospel requires them [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Timothy 4

1  He exhorts him to preach the Word with all care and diligence;
6  certifies him of the nearness of his death;
9  wills him to come speedily unto him, and to bring Marcus with him;
14  warns him to beware of Alexander the metalworker
16  informs him what had befallen him at his first answering;
19  and soon after he concludes

Greek Commentary for 2 Timothy 4:19

Prisca and Aquila [Πρισχαν και Ακυλαν]
Paul‘s friends now back in Ephesus, no longer in Rome (Romans 16:3). See note on 2 Timothy 1:16 for the house of Onesiphorus. [source]
Salute [ἄσπασαι]
Very often in Paul. The singular only here and Titus 3:15. [source]
Prisca and Aquila []
They appear in Corinth, Acts 18:2, Acts 18:3; in Ephesus, Acts 18:18, Acts 18:26; 1 Corinthians 16:19. [source]
Onesiphorus []
Profit-bringer. Comp. 2 Timothy 1:16. One of the punning names so common among slaves. Comp. Chresimus, Chrestus, Onesimus, Symphorus, all of which signify useful or helpful. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Timothy 4:19

Acts 18:18 Priscilla and Aquila []
They are named in the same order, Romans 16:3; 2 Timothy 4:19. [source]
Romans 16:3 Prisca and Aquila []
Priscilla is the diminutive of Prisca. See Acts 18:2, Acts 18:18, Acts 18:26; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19. It is argued by some that Aquila and Priscilla must have been at Ephesus at this time, since they were there when Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 16:19, and again when he wrote 2 Timothy 4:19. “It is strange to find them settled at Rome with a church in their house between these two dates” (Farrar). But, as Bishop Lightfoot remarks (“Commentary on Philippians,” p. 176), “As Rome was their headquarters, and they had been driven thence by an imperial edict (Acts 18:2), it is natural enough that they should have returned thither as soon as it was convenient and safe to do so. The year which elapses between the two notices, allows ample time for them to transfer themselves from Ephesus to Rome, and for the apostle to hear of their return to their old abode.” Notice that the name of Priscilla precedes that of her husband. So Acts 18:2. Probably she was the more prominent of the two in christian activity. [source]
Romans 14:23 Faith []
In Christ. “So far as it brings with it the moral confidence as to what in general and under given circumstances is the right christian mode of action” (Meyer). Some authorities insert here the doxology at Romans 16:25-27. According to some, the Epistle to the Romans closed with this chapter. Chapter 16 was a list of disciples resident at different points on the route, who were to be greeted. Phoebe is first named because Cenchreae would be the first stage. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Ephesus would be the next stage, where Aquila and Priscilla would be found. Chapter 15 was a sort of private missive to be communicated to all whom the messengers should visit on the way. The question seems to be almost wholly due to the mention of Aquila and Priscilla in ch. 16, and to the fact that there is no account of their migration from Ephesus to Rome, and of an after-migration again to Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:19). But see on Romans 16:14. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Others claim that chs. 1-11,16. were the original epistle; that Phoebe's journey was delayed, and that, in the interval, news from Rome led Paul to add 12-15. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Others again, that ch. 16 was written from Rome to Ephesus. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Against these theories is the stubborn fact that of the known extant MSS. of Paul (about three hundred) all the MSS. hitherto collated, including all the most important, give these chapters in the received connection and order, with the exception of the doxology. See on the doxology, ch. 16. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

Romans 16:3 Prisca and Aquila [Πρισκαν και Ακυλαν]
This order always (Acts 18:18, Acts 18:26; 2 Timothy 4:19, and here) save in Acts 18:2; 1 Corinthians 16:19, showing that Prisca was the more prominent. Priscilla is a diminutive of Prisca, a name for women in the Acilian gens. She may have been a noble Roman lady, but her husband was a Jew of Pontus and a tent-maker by trade. They were driven from Rome by Claudius, came to Corinth, then to Ephesus, then back to Rome, and again to Ephesus. They were good travelling Christians. My fellow-workers (τους συνεργους μου — tous sunergous mou). Both in tent-making and in Christian service in Corinth and Ephesus. [source]
2 Timothy 1:16 Onesiphorus []
Mentioned again, 2 Timothy 4:19. [source]
2 Timothy 1:16 Unto the house of Onesiphorus [τωι Ονησιπορου οικωι]
The same phrase in 2 Timothy 4:19. Apparently Onesiphorus is now dead as is implied by the wish in 2 Timothy 1:18. For he oft refreshed me (οτι πολλακις με ανεπσυχεν — hoti pollakis me anepsuxen). First aorist active indicative of αναπσυχω — anapsuchō old verb, to cool again, in lxx and Koiné{[28928]}š often, here only in N.T., but αναπσυχις — anapsuxis in Acts 3:20. In the first imprisonment or the second. If he lost his life for coming to see Paul, it was probably recently during this imprisonment. Was not ashamed of my chain Passive deponent again (first aorist indicative) with accusative as in 2 Timothy 1:8. For αλυσιν — halusin (chain) see note on Ephesians 6:20. Note absence of augment in επαισχυντη — epaischunthē f0). [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Timothy 4:19 mean?

Greet Prisca and Aquila the of Onesiphorus house
Ἄσπασαι Πρίσκαν καὶ Ἀκύλαν τὸν Ὀνησιφόρου οἶκον

Ἄσπασαι  Greet 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Middle, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἀπασπάζομαι 
Sense: to draw to one’s self.
Πρίσκαν  Prisca 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Πρίσκα  
Sense: a Christian woman, the wife of Aquila.
Ἀκύλαν  Aquila 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἀκύλας  
Sense: a Jew of Pontus, a tent maker convert to Christ, companion and ally of Paul in propagating Christianity.
Ὀνησιφόρου  of  Onesiphorus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ὀνησίφορος  
Sense: the name of a certain Christian in 2 Ti.
οἶκον  house 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: οἶκος  
Sense: a house.