This section of Chapter 4 has seven verses:
2 Timothy 4:9-15
9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this
present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;
Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him
with thee: for he is profitable to me for the
ministry.
12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when
thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but
especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the
Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly
withstood our words.
We will begin with the Barclay commentary:
A ROLL OF HONOUR AND DISHONOUR
2 Timothy 4: 9-15
…paraphrased
Do your best to come and see me soon. Demas
has deserted me, because he loved this
present world, and has gone to Thessalonica.
Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to
Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Take Mark
and bring him with you, for he is very
useful in service. I have sent Tychicus to
Ephesus. When you come, bring with you the
cloak which I left behind at Troas at
Carpus’ house, and bring the books,
especially the parchments. Alexander, the
coppersmith, did me a great deal of harm.
The Lord will reward him according to his
deeds. You yourself must be on your guard
against him, for he hotly opposed our words.
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PAUL draws up a roll of honour and of
dishonour of his friends. Some are only names to
us; of some, as we read the Acts of the Apostles as
well as the Epistles, we get the occasional
revealing glimpse. If we are allowed to use our
imagination, we can reconstruct some of the stories.
~Barclay commentary
And now to the other commentaries. As usual,
we will begin with the general and move to the
specific. The general commentaries will be
exactly as the lesson for verse 14 as these two
verses go together.
We will begin with Matthew Henry and its discussion
of verses 14 and 15.
He mentions Alexander, and the mischief that he had
done him, 2 Timothy 4:14-15. This is he who is
spoken of Acts 19:33. It should seem, he had been a
professor of the Christian religion, a forward
professor, for he was there particularly maligned by
the worshippers of Diana, and yet he did Paul much
evil. Paul was in as much danger from false brethren
(2 Corinthians 11:26) as from open enemies. Paul
foretells that God would reckon with him. It is a
prophetical denunciation of the just judgment of God
that would befall him: The Lord will reward him
according to his works. He cautions Timothy to take
heed of him: “Of whom be thou aware also, that he
does not, under pretense of friendship, betray thee
to mischief.” It is dangerous having anything to do
with those who would be enemies to such a man as
Paul. Observe,
(1.) Some who were once Paul's hearers and admirers
did not give him reason to remember them with much
pleasure; for one forsook him, and another did him
much evil, and greatly withstood his words. Yet,
(2.) At the same time he mentions some with
pleasure; the badness of some did not make him
forget the goodness of others; such as Timothy,
Titus, Mark, and Luke.
(3.) The apostle has left a brand on the names and
memory of two persons; the one is Demas, who forsook
him, having loved the present world, and the other
is Alexander, who greatly withstood his words.
(4.) God will reward evil-doers, particularly
apostates, according to their works.
(5.) Of such as are of Alexander's spirit and temper
we should beware; for they will do us no good, but
all the mischief that is in their power.
~Matthew Henry Main
Quoted verses:
Acts 19:33
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the
Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned
with the hand, and would have made his defence unto
the people.
2 Corinthians 11:26
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils
of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in
perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in
perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in
perils among false brethren;
Let us go now to the Pulpit Bible for some
commentary:
The inference from this caution to Timothy is that
Alexander had left Rome and returned to his native
Ephesus. The Jews were always on the move. He
greatly withstood our words. For an exactly similar
use, see Acts 13:8, where Elymas [EL-uh-muhs]
"withstood" Paul and Barnabas; and 2 Timothy 3:8,
where Jannes [JAN-eez]
and Jambres [JAM-breez]
"withstood" Moses. In this case we may be sure that
Paul, in pleading for his life, did not omit to
preach the gospel to his Gentile audience. Alexander
tried to refute his words, not without effect. The
apostle says "our words" (not
"my words"), perhaps to associate with
himself those other Christians who were with him. It
certainly cannot mean "yours and mine," as Timothy
was not with him when the "words" were spoken.
~Pulpit Bible
Quoted verses:
Acts 13:8
But Elymas [EL-uh-muhs]
the sorcerer (for so is his
name by interpretation) withstood them,
seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
2 Timothy 3:8 [see
Lesson]
Now as Jannes [JAN-eez]
and Jambres [JAM-breez]
withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth:
men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the
faith.
Now this from the John Darby:
He warns Timothy with regard to a man who had shewn
his enmity, and puts him on his guard against him.
We see here also that the epistle bears the
character of righteousness, grace having had its
course. "The Lord," he says, " reward him according
to his deeds." As for those who had not courage to
stand by him, when he had to answer as a prisoner,
he only prays for them. He had not been discouraged.
His heart, broken by the unfaithfulness of the
assembly, was strong in confessing the Lord before
the world, and he can testify that, if forsaken by
men, the Lord Himself stood with him and
strengthened him. ~John
Darby Synopsis
I am giving you this commentary which looks ahead to
verses 16 and 17
2 Timothy 4:16-17
16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all
men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid
to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and
strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be
fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear:
and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
We had a lot of discussion on Paul's attitude when
he writes, "the Lord reward him according to his
works." We all know that in our human nature and
worldly conditioning is anger toward those doing
evil, wrong and/or hurtful things to us. So why
wasn't Paul drawn to his base nature regarding
Alexander the coppersmith and all those who had
deserted him? It is right there in verse 17. Despite
all the evil done and brethren running away, the
Lord stood with him and strengthen him.
Let us go now to the specific commentaries.
This verse is in two parts:
1] Of whom be thou ware also.
2] For he hath greatly withstood our words.
1] Of whom be thou ware also.
Of whom be thou ware -
This seems to indicate that Alexander was at Ephesus
still. ~Geneva Bible
Translation Notes.
Of whom be thou ware also
- It would seem from this that Alexander was still a
public teacher, and that his discourses were
plausible and artful. The best and the wisest of men
need to be on their guard against the efforts of the
advocates of error. ~Barnes
Notes
Note: See
Minister's Notebook piece, "The
Era of Slick Arguments."
Of whom be thou ware also
- It seems that this rabbin traveled about from
place to place for the purpose of opposing the
Gospel, the Jews putting him forward, as it is said,
Acts 19:33. ~Adam Clarke
Quoted verse:
Acts 19:33
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the
Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned
with the hand, and would have made his defence unto
the people.
Of whom be thou ware also
- 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: ~John Gill
2] For he hath greatly withstood
our words.
For he hath greatly withstood
our words - Margin, “preachings.” The Greek
is, “words;” but the reference is doubtless to the
public teachings of Paul. This verse makes it clear
that it was no private wrong that Paul referred to,
but the injury which he was doing to the cause of
truth as a professed public teacher.
~Barnes Notes
He hath greatly withstood our
words - Has been a constant opposer of the
Christian doctrines. ~Adam
Clarke
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.
~John Gill
For he hath greatly
withstood our words - the arguments of us
Christians for our common faith. Believers have a
common cause. ~Jamieson,
Fausset, Brown
For he hath greatly withstood
our words - For an exactly similar use, see
Acts 13:8, where Elymas [EL-uh-muhs]
"withstood" Paul and Barnabas; and 2 Timothy 3:8,
where Jannes [JAN-eez]
and Jambres [JAM-breez]
"withstood" Moses. In this case we may be sure that
Paul, in pleading for his life, did not omit to
preach the gospel to his Gentile audience. Alexander
tried to refute his words, not without effect. The
apostle says "our words" (not
"my words"), perhaps to associate with
himself those other Christians who were with him. It
certainly cannot mean "yours and mine," as Timothy
was not with him when the "words" were spoken.
~Pulpit commentary
Quoted verses:
Acts 13:8
...we referenced this above
But Elymas [EL-uh-muhs]
the sorcerer (for so is his
name by interpretation) withstood them,
seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
2 Timothy 3:8 [see
Lesson]
Now as Jannes [JAN-eez]
and Jambres [JAM-breez]
withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth:
men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the
faith.
I want to go back now to what verses 14 and 15 are
really talking about and this concept of "slick
arguments." Clearly Alexander was a master of
such arguments.
In
Matthew 24:11 we read, "And
many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive
many."
Further down in the same chapter, verse 24, you
read, "For
there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,
and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch
that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the
very elect."
I can tell you now that many of these may not come
in the form of a human you see face-to-face.
Several will come in the form of a web site, a
published article or even an e-mail from a member in
the church.
The deception will come in the form of a slick
argument, written with such craftiness, style and
seemingly solid logical scriptural foundation that
one could be sucked in without even realizing what
had taken place. Never in my life in the church
have I begun to see so many. You will see them
too. The subject matter will be subtle [so
slight as to be difficult to detect]
changes to doctrine, slander on church leaders, past
and present and upon the Church of God itself.
Just yesterday I happened on a web site, which in
essence, was a massive attack on all the churches of
God. The author enumerated several of the larger
organizations by name. The site is beautiful and
included a clear style, inviting layout and soft
colors. His use of scripture throughout the many
pages of the site was impressive and compelling. As
I read through the material, I knew it was a
deception and the scriptures misapplied, but I still
felt myself gently pulled along. I literally had to
jerk myself away from viewing the screen. Very
slick.
The Word of God is replete with scriptures on this
subject. They show how the deception works, what's
going to happen, and what steps we can take to keep
from falling into these deceptive traps and
pitfalls.
HOW IT
WORKS
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived. –2
Timothy 3:13 [see
Lesson]
They also that seek after my life lay snares for me:
and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things,
and imagine deceits all the day long. –Psalm
38:12
The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the
counsels of the wicked are deceit. –Proverbs
12:5
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and
fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. –Romans
16:18
Note: As
we near the Great Tribulation, this situation will
wax worse and worse. It will be unavoidable. They
will lay snares for you with these slick arguments
in an attempt to pull you away from God's church and
ultimately your salvation. They will use good words
and fair speeches and WILL DECEIVE. These people
serve their own bellies and their own agendas.
WHAT
YOU WILL SEE HAPPEN TO THE WEAK
Which
say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets,
Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us
smooth things, prophesy deceits. –Isaiah
30:10
For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they
heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,
and shall be turned unto fables. –2
Timothy 4:3-4
[see
Lesson]
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils. –1
Timothy 4:1 [see
Lesson]
Note: Those
not immersed in the Word of God and not close to
Christ in their Salvation Process will give heed to
the slick argument and want more and more. They may
even become masters themselves of these slick
arguments and seek to trap and deceive others. They
will depart from the faith, even though continuing
to attend God's church.
MANIFESTATIONS YOU MIGHT WITNESS IN THE BODY OF
CHRIST
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You will see the aforementioned
web sites, papers and articles.
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The leadership and ministry will
suffer slander and people will enumerate
their sins, mistakes and faults with the
idea of destroying their position or driving
their congregations from them.
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You will see or hear of a member
suddenly withholding tithes and offerings
because of an overheard slander against the
church or the ministry.
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You might see someone attempting
to introduce a new spin on a doctrine during
Sabbath fellowship.
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You might hear of some speaker
attempting to introduce a "new" doctrine or
a new spin on a present belief from the
pulpit.
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You may witness or hear of an
uncredentialed member of a congregation
holding a private Bible study at his or her
private home with several members of the
congregation. They will have deep
discussions on doctrine or church
administration and offer complaint.
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There will be congregations
which will experience murmuring, complaints,
strife, debates, arguments, taking of sides,
bitterness, intrigue, and division often
times on elements having NOTHING to do with
the Salvation Process.
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WHAT TO
DO
But continue thou in the things which thou hast
learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom
thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou
hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is
in Christ Jesus. –2
Timothy 3:14-15
[see
Lesson]
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will
increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will
eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus [Hi
may nay us]
and Philetus [Phi-le-tus];
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the
resurrection is past already; and overthrow the
faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God
standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth
them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth
the name of Christ depart from iniquity. –2
Timothy 2:16-19
[see
Lesson]
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables,
when we made known unto you the power and coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his
majesty. –2
Peter 1:16
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments
of men, that turn from the truth. –Titus
1:14
But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and
exercise thyself rather unto godliness. –1
Timothy 4:7 [see
Lesson]
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which minister questions, rather than godly edifying
which is in faith: so do. –1
Timothy 1:4 [see
Lesson]
Note: First
and foremost: Immerse
yourself into the Word of God and
maintain a close relationship with God, the Father
and Jesus Christ, the head of this Church. DO
THIS DILIGENTLY.
Focus FIRST on the Spiritual and lastly on the
physical elements of the church. Do as these
scriptures say and SHUN profane and vain babblings.
Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. Jerk your
eyes from the screen of profane and slick web
sites. Delete e-mails that seek to destroy you with
crafty reasoning and logic to give up or neglect
sound doctrine. Avoid strife and anything
divisive.
Never allow someone the use of the Word of God to
tear down the church, its ministry or its members.
The Word of God can only be used to lift one up, not
put him down.
We are in era of slick arguments. Alexander
the coppersmith then and so many more now.
This is the lesson of verse 15.
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