The verb anapsychō literally means to cool by blowing or to refresh — to provide relief from heat, exhaustion, or distress. In the New Testament it appears once (2 Timothy 1:16), where Paul says Onesiphorus "often refreshed" him while he was imprisoned in Rome.
Paul's commendation of Onesiphorus is one of the most tender passages in his letters. While others abandoned him during his Roman imprisonment, Onesiphorus "eagerly searched" for Paul and was not ashamed of his chains. The result: he "often refreshed" (anepsyxen) Paul. This cooling, reviving ministry — the pastoral care of a faithful friend — is presented as exemplary Christian love. Onesiphorus models the "cup of cold water" theology of Matthew 10:42: simple acts of presence and practical care are acts of worship. The refreshment Paul received was not merely physical but spiritual — the warmth of faithful companionship against the cold of abandonment.