2 Timothy 1:17 (ASV)

Passage

but, when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me

Nearby Context

2 Timothy 1:15 This thou knowest, that all that are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

2 Timothy 1:16 The Lord grant mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus: for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;

2 Timothy 1:17 but, when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me

2 Timothy 1:18 (the Lord grant unto him to find mercy of the Lord in that day); and in how many things he ministered at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "rome", "sought", "diligently", and "found". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "rome" and "sought", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "The Lord grant mercy unto the house..." into verse 18's "the Lord grant unto him to find...", so "rome" and "sought" belong inside that flow. In 2 Timothy context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "rome" and "sought" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.