“Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message” (2 Timothy 4:14-15 NIV).
In 2 Thessalonians 1:6, Paul the Apostle wrote the following words: “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you” (NIV). That counsel was not only good for the Thessalonians; it was good for Paul as well. You see, 2 Timothy 4:14 tells us that Paul applied this same guidance in a troublesome relationship with an individual named Alexander.
Paul’s interaction with Alexander the metalworker is instructive on several different levels. We should first note Paul’s focus upon God’s response to his circumstance: “The Lord will repay him for what he has done.” If we are armed with the knowledge that God will vindicate us for acting righteously, then we need not seek to avenge ourselves when others inflict injury upon us.
While this goes against our natural instinct to retaliate against those who hurt us, our responsibility to conduct ourselves in a God-honoring manner does not end when others seek to harm us. In fact, this directive also extends to our internal thoughts and attitudes, even when others seemingly “get what they deserve”…
“Do not rejoice when your enemy meets trouble. Let there be no gladness when he falls— for the Lord may be displeased with you and stop punishing him!” (Proverbs 24:17-18 TLB).
This attitude also reflects a portion of Jesus’ teaching from The Beatitudes…
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:44-45 ESV).
It also follows the example Jesus set for us…
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:21-23 ESV).
Finally, Paul issued a common-sense warning regarding Alexander’s conduct to help protect Timothy from unnecessary injury: “You also must beware of him.” This practical reminder echoes Jesus’ counsel from Matthew 10:16: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”