2 Timothy 4:14

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14) Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil.—Most probably, the same Alexander, mentioned in the First Epistle (1Timothy 1:20) “as delivered to Satan,” and not improbably identical with the Alexander “the Jew” put forward by the Jews in the Ephesian tumult. (Acts 19:33-34).

It has been suggested that this Alexander, an influential Ephesian Jew, had done much injury to the cause of the Christians generally, and to St. Paul personally, with the imperial authorities at Rome.

The Lord reward him according to his works.—The older authorities read, “shall reward him . . .” The works referred to were the bitter injuries he had done to the cause of Christ, rather than to the Apostle himself.

Benson Commentary

2 Timothy 4:14-15. Alexander the coppersmith — Or brasier; did me much evil — This seems to have been the person mentioned 1 Timothy 1:20 : probably he was one of the Judaizing teachers, who violently opposed the true doctrine of the gospel. The Lord reward him — The Alexandrian, and six other MSS., the Syriac and the Vulgate versions, and some of the Fathers, read here, αποδωσει, the Lord will reward him: and it is probable the words ought to be considered as spoken prophetically. At least, as Doddridge observes, “what we know of Paul’s character must lead us to conclude, that if he did not mean the words as a mere prediction, he did not, however, wish evil to him as evil, but only that he might be so animadverted upon as to prevent the contagion of his bad example from spreading in the church, and to bring him to repentance and reformation, that so he might be preserved from final destruction.” Of whom be thou ware also — Be thou upon thy guard wherever thou happenest to meet with him; for he hath greatly withstood our words — Hath used every means in his power to prevent the progress and advancement of the true gospel.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:14-18 There is as much danger from false brethren, as from open enemies. It is dangerous having to do with those who would be enemies to such a man as Paul. The Christians at Rome were forward to meet him, Ac 28, but when there seemed to be a danger of suffering with him, then all forsook him. God might justly be angry with them, but he prays God to forgive them. The apostle was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, that is, of Nero, or some of his judges. If the Lord stands by us, he will strengthen us in difficulties and dangers, and his presence will more than supply every one's absence.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Alexander the coppersmith - Or, rather, "the brazier" - ὁ χαλκεύς ho chalkeus. The word is used, however, to denote a worker in any kind of metals. This is probably the same person who is mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:20, and perhaps the same as the one mentioned in Acts 19:33; see the notes on 1 Timothy 1:20.

Did me much evil - In what way this was done, is not mentioned. If this is the same person who is referred to in 1 Timothy 1:20, it is probable that it was not evil to Paul personally, so much as embarrassment to the cause of religion which he advocated; compare 2 Timothy 2:17-18.

The Lord reward him according to his works; - compare the notes at 1 Timothy 1:20. This need not be regarded as an expression of private feeling; still less should it be understood as expressing a desire of revenge. It is the language of one who wished that God would treat him exactly as he ought to be treated, and might be in accordance with the highest benevolence of any heart. It is the aim of every just government that every one should be treated exactly as he deserves; and every good citizen should desire and pray that exact justice may be done to all. It is the business of a police officer to ferret out the guilty, to bring them to trial, to secure a just sentence; and any police officer might "pray," with the utmost propriety, that God would assist him in his endeavors, and enable him to perform his duty. This might be done with no malevolent feeling toward any human being, but with the purest love of country, and the most earnest desire for the welfare of all.

if such a police officer, or if a judge, or a juryman, were heard thus to pray, who would dare to accuse him of having a vindictive spirit, or a malevolent heart? And why should Paul be so charged, when his prayer amounts to no more than this? For it remains yet to be proved that he refers to any private wrong which Alexander had done him, or that he was actuated by any other desire than that the sacred interests of truth should be guarded, and equal justice done to all. Why is it wrong to desire or to pray that universal justice may be done, and that every man may be treated as, under all the circumstances of the case, he ought to be treated? On the subject of the "Imprecations in the Scriptures," the reader may consult an article in the Bibliotheca Sacra, vol. 1, pp. 97-110. It should be added here, that some manuscripts, instead of ἀποδῴη apodōē, "may the Lord reward," read it in the future - ἀποδώσει apodōsei, "will reward." See Wetstein. The future is also found in the Vulgate, Coptic, and in Augustine, Theodoret, and Chrysostom. Augustine says (on the Sermon on the Mount), "He does not say, may he reward (reddat); but, he will reward (reddet), which is a verb of prophecy, not of imprecation. The authority, however, is not sufficient to justify a change in the present reading. These variations have doubtless arisen from a belief that the common reading expresses a sentiment inconsistent with the true spirit of a Christian, and a desire to find a better. But there is no reason for "desiring" a change in the text.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. Alexander the coppersmith—or "smith" in general. Perhaps the same as the Alexander (see on [2509]1Ti 1:20) at Ephesus. Excommunicated then he subsequently was restored, and now vented his personal malice because of his excommunication in accusing Paul before the Roman judges, whether of incendiarism or of introducing a new religion. See my [2510]Introduction. He may have been the Alexander put forward by the Jews in the tumult at Ephesus (Ac 19:33, 34).

reward—The oldest manuscripts read, "shall reward," or "requite him." Personal revenge certainly did not influence the apostle (2Ti 4:16, end).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Alesander the coppersmith did me much evil; we read of three Alexanders; one Mark 15:21, the son of him that bare Christ’s cross; another Acts 4:6, akin to Annas the High Priest; a third, Acts 19:33, probably the person here meant, for he was an Ephesian; but he at that time was a disciple of Paul’s, as appears there; probably afterward he apostasized, and was excommunicated by Paul, 1 Timothy 1:20, which might possibly provoke him: what harm he did to him, and where, whether at Ephesus or Rome, it is not said. The Lord reward him according to his works; how far it is lawful to pray against our enemies, (as Paul did here against Alexander), See Poole "Psalm 99:6", See Poole "Jeremiah 11:20", See Poole "Jeremiah 12:3".

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil,.... This seems to be the same person that was at Ephesus in the tumult, when the apostle was there, Acts 20:33 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.

The Lord reward him according to his works; which may be considered either as an imprecation upon him, as knowing him to be a wicked blasphemer, and a reprobate person; and which arose, not from private resentment, and on account of the private injury he had done to him; but from a pure zeal for the glory of God, and the honour of his name, without mingling his own spirit and passions with it: or as a prophecy, or declaration of what would be; and so the Alexandrian copy, and the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions, read, "the Lord will render to him", &c.

Geneva Study Bible

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

2 Timothy 4:14-15. Warning against a certain Alexander. Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ χαλκεύς] see on 1 Timothy 1:20.

πολλά μοι κακὰ ἐνεδείξατο] The words point to a personal injury which he had inflicted on the apostle. This must, however, be added to an attitude of opposition to his words, as is shown in the words: λίαν γὰρ ἀντέστη τοῖς ἡμετέροις λόγοις] It is doubtful where this was done, and where Alexander was at the time of the composition of this epistle. Further, the warning: ὃν καὶ σὺ φυλάσσου, may refer both “to Timothy’s presence in Ephesus and to his future stay in Rome” (de Wette). Wiesinger conjectures that this Alexander, a native of Ephesus, had come from there to Rome to give testimony against the apostle (at his πρώτη ἀπολογία, 2 Timothy 4:16), and had afterwards returned to Ephesus.[68] This conjecture obtains some probability from the fact that in the very next verse Paul speaks of the ἀπολογία; but this fact cannot be regarded as making the matter certain. The words preceding this warning, if we read ἀποδώσει αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ, present no difficulty. Even with the reading ἀποδώῃ they cannot form a reason for reproaching the apostle with a desire for vengeance; Christian love does not extinguish the feeling of justice; besides, the apostle does not speak the words because of the personal injury, but because of Alexander’s hostility to the truth. Justin (quaest. 125, ad Orthod.) says of these words: πρέπουσα ἀνδρὶ ἀποστόλῳ μὴ ἐκδικοῦντι ἑαυτὸν, ἀλλὰ διδόντι τόπον τῇ ὀργῇ; comp. Romans 12:19; 1 Peter 2:23.

[68] Hofmann supposes that this Alexander was the same as the one mentioned in Acts 19., and that he had given testimony against the apostle in Ephesus. The opinion is manifestly too far-fetched, that Luke would not have mentioned him in the Acts, if the Roman Theophilus, for whom in the first place he wrote the Acts, “had not known Alexander from some other source, in the manner in which we make acquaintance with him in the passage before us.”

Expositor's Greek Testament

2 Timothy 4:14-15. Beware of Alexander the smith.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

14. did me much evil] The Greek word has a technical meaning, ‘impeached,’ ‘indicted,’ and so it is sometimes rendered here ‘laid many grievous things to my charge’; but it is in the simpler sense, ‘shewed me much mischief,’ that the verb is used nine times by St Paul. Cf. 1 Timothy 1:16, Titus 2:10; Titus 3:2.

the Lord reward him] The aorist optative has less weight of ms. authority than the future indic, will render, which tense of the same verb has occurred 2 Timothy 4:8.

14, 15. Dr Farrar’s suggestion for the link of connexion is possible, that St Paul’s second arrest took place at Troas, and that such an one as Alexander the coppersmith could easily have procured his arrest, and when suddenly seized by the lictors at Troas he could have had no time to take away his possessions. On 1 Timothy 1:20 we have seen that there is no particular reason to identify this Alexander with the one mentioned there. Rather the addition of ‘coppersmith’ as a distinguishing title suggests the opposite. ‘The smith’ would be perhaps more certainly correct; the word being quite as commonly used for ‘blacksmith.’

Bengel's Gnomen

2 Timothy 4:14. Ἐνεδείξατο, exhibited towards or occasioned me [did me]) at Ephesus, or even at Rome.—ἀποδῴη, reward) The apostle knew that he would not be unavenged; he therefore [does not hereby indulge in revenge, but] expresses his acquiescence in the judgment of the Lord.—λίαν, greatly) Therefore he will not discontinue.—ἡμετέροις, our) Believers have a common cause and interest: and Timothy already at that time was the companion of Paul. This adversary was there, where Timothy was, and where Paul had been, viz. at Ephesus, and Timothy must therefore be on his guard against him.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - Will render to him for reward him, A.V. and T.R. Alexander; apparently an Ephesian, as appears by the words, "of whom be thou ware also." It seems probable, though it is necessarily uncertain, that this Alexander is the same person as that mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:20 as "a blasphemer," which agrees exactly with what is here said of him, "he greatly withstood our words" (comp. Acts 13:45, "contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed"). He may or may not be the same as the Alexander named in Acts 19:33. Supposing the Alexander of 1 Timothy 1:20 and this place to be the same, the points of resemblance with the Alexander of Acts 19:33 are that both resided at Ephesus, that both seem to have been Christians (see note on 1 Timothy 1:20), and both probably Jews, inasmuch as 1 Timothy 1 relates entirely to Jewish heresies (vers. 4, 7, 8), and Acts 19:33 expressly states that he was a Jew. The coppersmith (ὁ χαλκεὺς; only here in the New Testament); properly, a coppersmith, but used generally of any smith - silversmith, or goldsmith, or blacksmith. Did me much evil (πολλά μοι κακὰ ἐνδείξατο). This is a purely Hellenistic idiom, and is found in the LXX. of Genesis 50:15, 17; Song of the Three Children, 19; 2 Macc. 13:9. In classical Greek the verb ἐνδείκυυμαι, in the middle voice, "to display," can only be followed by a subjective quality, as "good will," "virtue," "long suffering," an "opinion," and the like (see Alford, in loc.). And so it is used in 1 Timothy 1:16; Titus 2:10; Titus 3:2. The question naturally arises - When and where did Alexander thus injure St. Paul? - at Ephesus or at Rome? Bengel suggests Rome, and with great probability. Perhaps he did him evil by stirring up the Jews at Rome against the apostle at the time of "his first defence;" or by giving adverse testimony before the Roman tribunal, possibly accusing him of being seditious, and bringing up the riot at Ephesus as a proof of it; or in some other way, of which the memory has perished. Will render. The R.T. has the future, ἀποδώσει for the optative ἀποδώη, "a late and incorrect form for ἀποδοίη (Ellicott, in loc.). 2 Timothy 4:14

Vincent's Word Studies

Alexander the coppersmith

Comp. 1 Timothy 1:20, and Acts 19:33. The same person is probably meant in all three cases.

Did me much evil (πολλά μοι κακὰ ἐνεδείξατο)

Lit. shewed me much ill-treatment. Comp. 1 Timothy 1:16.

May the Lord reward (ἀποδώσει)

More correctly shall reward. A.V. follows the reading ἀποδω ῄ.