Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 51

Paul Warns Timothy to Steer Clear of a very Evil Man

2 Timothy 4:14-15 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. KJV

In the Gospels and in the New Testament, there are six (6) references to a man named Alexander given to us and there has been much debate, discussion, and even dispute over who this (Alexander) Paul the Apostle refers to here as he states with these words, "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:" (2 Timothy 4:14) (KJV). This particular man (Alexander) Paul had more than one encounter with according to his words used here in this verse, but who he was is not exactly as clear as we would like. The first mention of a man named Alexander in the Gospels was made by John Mark as it is written with these words, "And they made one who was passing by, Simon a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross." (Mark 15:21) (Modern King James Version). The case could be made that this is the Alexander Paul speaks of, but this man was mentioned only as to document who his Father was Simon, so it is in my humble opinion that this Alexander is not the man Paul wanted Timothy to steer clear of and also he could have even been a young boy. The second mention of a man named Alexander is in the Acts of the Apostles as documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "And it happened on the next day that their rulers and elders and scribes, gathered to Jerusalem, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest." (Acts 4:5-6) (Modern King James Version). Surely this Alexander could not be the man Paul speaks of because he was one of the Jewish elders or scribes and a member of the Sanhedrin, that is, (The supreme judicial and ecclesiastical council of ancient Jerusalem) and was not a coppersmith.

The third mention of a man named Alexander was documented for us by Dr. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles here, "And they dragged Alexander forward out of the crowd, the Jews thrusting him forward. And waving his hand Alexander desired to defend himself to the mob." (Acts 19:33) (Modern King James Version). Here we have a case of a man either just a Jew who was in the crowd witnessing what was taking place in the city of Ephesus or we have a Jewish convert to Christ after hearing the Gospel preached by Paul and the others who was being persecuted because of his conversion, so this Alexander surely is not the one Paul speaks of having done him much evil. Paul himself had wrote to Timothy in his first letter of two Christians that he had delivered over to Satan, that is, excommunicating them from the Church as it is written with these words, "This charge I commit to you, my son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before about you, in order that you might war a good warfare by them, holding faith and a good conscience, which some have put away and made shipwreck as to faith. Among these are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme." (1 Timothy 1:18-20) (Modern King James Version). This could possibly be the Alexander Paul speaks of here in his second letter to Timothy because this Alexander may have never repented of his blaspheme and proved himself to be a false believer and in turn decided and determined to do much harm to Paul and it is my opinion that Paul speaks of this Alexander as the coppersmith that did him much evil. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about who this Alexander was, "This seems to be the same person that was at Ephesus in the tumult, when the Apostle was there, and whom he afterwards delivered to Satan, along with Hymenaeus, for blasphemy, 1 Timothy 1:20. It was very likely he had lately been at Rome, though now returned to Ephesus, and had done great injury to the Apostle's character, and had reproached and reviled him as a man of bad principles and practices; his business is mentioned, to distinguish him from any other of that name, and to show the insolence of the man, that though he was an illiterate person, and in such a mean station of life, yet took upon him to resist the Apostle and his doctrine."

When Paul writes 'the Lord reward him according to his works', he means that what the man had willfully done to hurt the Apostle Paul had not gone un-noticed by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul knew that he needed to take no action of retaliation, rebuke, or revenge upon this man, for it was Paul himself who wrote these very words speaking of what our Lord Jesus would do for us His sons and daughters who were hurt, harmed, and harrassed by others, "Repay no one evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as far as is in you, being in peace with all men. Not avenging yourselves, beloved, but giving place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (Romans 12:17-19) (Modern King James Version). Paul wants to advise Brother Timothy to keep away from this man all together, for perhaps he continued on in his profession of faith in Christ, but yet he was not a true believer and did evil to Paul and no doubt to others as well, for evil never stops at hurting and harming only one, but the devil desires to bring destruction upon as many as he can reach through the human instruments  he controls, therefore because of this, Paul now writes these words of wisdom to Timothy, "Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words." (2 Timothy 4:15) (KJV). The little English phrase 'be thou ware' is translated by the Greek word phulassō meaning to watch, that is, be on guard (literally or figuratively); by implication to avoid: - beware, observe, save. In other words, literally Timothy keep yourself away from this man at all cost and at all times and in all places where he might be found to occupy. Paul declares to Timothy that this man greatly 'withstood' the Word of God which he proclaimed and this English word 'withstood' is translated by the Greek word anthistēmi which means to stand against, that is, oppose: - resist, withstand. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about this verse, "For he was now at Ephesus; and since he was such a malicious, ill natured, and troublesome person, as well as a blasphemer, an heretic, and had been delivered up to Satan, it was very advisable to shun his company, and have no conversation with him, and be upon the guard against him, that he might have no opportunity of doing hurt to him, or to the Church at Ephesus: for he hath greatly withstood our words or doctrines; the truths of the Gospel preached by Paul and Timothy, which he opposed himself to, and resisted with all his might, and endeavoured to confute and overthrow; and wherein he was deficient in argument, he made up with railing and blasphemy; and this was the true reason of the Apostle's imprecations on him, and why he would have Timothy beware of him, and avoid him, and not the personal injury he had done him."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…