The Meaning of 2 Timothy 4:14 Explained

2 Timothy 4:14

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

YLT: Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil; may the Lord repay to him according to his works,

Darby: Alexander the smith did many evil things against me. The Lord will render to him according to his works.

ASV: Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord will render to him according to his works:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does 2 Timothy 4:14 Mean?

Study Notes

Lord
Jehovah. 2 Samuel 3:39 .

Context Summary

2 Timothy 4:13-22 - "the Lord Stood By Me"
The winter was approaching, and the Apostle would be glad of his cloak amid the damp of the Mamertine prison. Evidently his arrest under Nero's orders had been so sudden and peremptory that he was not allowed to go into his lodgings for this and other possessions, such as the books mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:13.
He had made his first appearance before Nero, and was expecting a further appearance to receive his sentence. But the Lord was with him, and his comfort was that he had proclaimed the gospel to the highest audience in the world of his time. His one thought always was that the gospel should be heard by men, whether they would hear or forbear. If that were secured, he did not count the cost to himself. The lion may stand for Nero or Satan. See Luke 22:31; 1 Peter 5:8. From 2 Timothy 4:20 we gather that miraculous gifts of healing, of which Paul was possessed, may not be used merely for friendship's sake, but only where the progress of the gospel requires them [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Timothy 4

1  He exhorts him to preach the Word with all care and diligence;
6  certifies him of the nearness of his death;
9  wills him to come speedily unto him, and to bring Marcus with him;
14  warns him to beware of Alexander the metalworker
16  informs him what had befallen him at his first answering;
19  and soon after he concludes

Greek Commentary for 2 Timothy 4:14

Alexander the coppersmith [Αλεχανδρος ο χαλκευς]
Old word, only here in N.T., for metal-worker (copper, iron, gold, etc.). Possibly the one in 1 Timothy 1:20, but not the one in Acts 19:33. unless he afterwards became a Christian. [source]
Did me much evil [μοι κακα ενεδειχατο]
Evidently he had some personal dislike towards Paul and possibly also he was a Gnostic. Will render (αποδωσει — apodōsei). Future active of the same verb used in 2 Timothy 4:8, but with a very different atmosphere. [source]
Will render [αποδωσει]
Future active of the same verb used in 2 Timothy 4:8, but with a very different atmosphere. [source]
Alexander the coppersmith []
Comp. 1 Timothy 1:20, and Acts 19:33. The same person is probably meant in all three cases. [source]
Did me much evil [πολλά μοι κακὰ ἐνεδείξατο]
Lit. shewed me much ill -treatment. Comp. 1 Timothy 1:16. [source]
May the Lord reward [ἀποδώσει]
More correctly shall reward. A.V. follows the reading ἀποδω ῄ . [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Timothy 4:14

Acts 11:26 Were called Christians [χρηματίσαι Χριστιανούς]
The former of these two words, rendered were called, meant, originally, to transact business, to have dealings with; thence, in the course of business, to give audience to, to answer, from which comes its use to denote the responses of an oracle; a divine advice or warning. See Acts 10:22; and compare Matthew 2:12; Hebrews 11:7. Later, it acquires the meaning to bear a name; tobe called, with the implication of a name used in the ordinary transactions and intercourse of men; the name under which one passes. This process of transition appears in the practice of naming men according to their occupations, as, in English, “John the Smith,” “Philip the Armorer;” a practice which is the origin of many familiar family names, such as Butler, Carpenter, Smith, Cooper. Compare in New Testament Alexander the coppersmith (2 Timothy 4:14); Matthew the publican (Matthew 10:3); Luke the physician (Colossians 4:14); Erastus the chamberlain (Romans 16:23); Rahab the harlot (Hebrews 11:31). In the same line is the use of the word calling, to denote one's business. The meaning of the word in this passage is illustrated by Romans 7:3. The disciples were called. They did not assume the name themselves. It occurs in only three passages in the New Testament: here; Acts 26:28; and 1 Peter 4:16; and only in the last-named passage is used by a Christian of a Christian. The name was evidently not given by the Jews of Antioch, to whom Christ was the interpretation of Messiah, and who wouldn't have bestowed that name on those whom they despised as apostates. The Jews designated the Christians as Nazarenes (Acts 24:5), a term of contempt, because it was a proverb that nothing good could come out of Nazareth (John 1:47), The name was probably not assumed by the disciples themselves; for they were in the habit of styling each other believers, disciples, saints, brethren, those of the way. It, doubtless, was bestowed by the Gentiles. Some suppose that it was applied as a term of ridicule, and cite the witty and sarcastic character of the people of Antioch, and their notoriety for inventing names of derision; but this is doubtful. The name may have been given simply as a distinctive title, naturally chosen from the recognized and avowed devotion of the disciples to Christ as their leader. The Antiochenes mistook the nature of the name, not understanding its use among the disciples as an official title- the Anointed - but-DIVIDER-
using it as apersonal name, which they converted into a party name. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

Acts 19:33 The Jews putting him forward [προβαλοντων αυτον των Ιουδαιων]
Genitive absolute of the second aorist active participle of προβαλλω — proballō old verb to push forward as leaves in the spring (Luke 21:30). In the N.T. only in these two passages. Alexandria had already disgraceful scenes of Jew-baiting and there was real peril now in Ephesus with this wild mob. So Alexander was pushed forward as the champion to defend the Jews to the excited mob. He may be the same Alexander the coppersmith who did Paul much evil (2 Timothy 4:14), against whom Paul will warn Timothy then in Ephesus. “The Jews were likely to deal in the copper and silver required for the shrines, so he may have had some trade connexion with the craftsmen which would give him influence” (Furneaux). Beckoned with the hand (κατασεισας την χειρα — kataseisas tān cheira). Old verb κατασειω — kataseiō to shake down, here the hand, rapidly waving the hand up and down to get a hearing. In the N.T. elsewhere only in Acts 12:17; Acts 13:16; Acts 21:40 where “with the hand” (τηι χειρι — tāi cheiri instrumental case) is used instead of την χειρα — tān cheira (the accusative). Would have made a defence unto the people Imperfect active, wanted to make a defence, tried to, started to, but apparently never got out a word. Απολογεισται — Apologeisthai (present middle infinitive, direct middle, to defend oneself), regular word for formal apology, but in N.T. only by Luke and Paul (twice in Gospel, six times in Acts, and in Romans 2:15; 2 Corinthians 12:19). [source]
Acts 21:27 When they saw him in the temple [τεασαμενοι αυτον εν τωι ιερωι]
First aorist middle participle of τεαομαι — theaomai (from τεα — thea a view, cf. theatre) to behold. In the very act of honouring the temple these Jews from Asia raise a hue and cry that he is dishonouring it. Paul was not known by face now to many of the Jerusalem Jews, though once the leader of the persecution after the death of Stephen and the outstanding young Jew of the day. But the Jews in Ephesus knew him only too well, some of whom are here at the pentecostal feast. They had plotted against him in Ephesus to no purpose (Acts 19:23-41; Acts 20:19), but now a new opportunity had come. It is possible that the cry was led by Alexander put forward by the Jews in Ephesus (Acts 19:33) who may be the same as Alexander the coppersmith who did Paul so much harm (2 Timothy 4:14). Paul was not in the inner sanctuary Stirred up all the multitude (συνεχεον παντα τον οχλον — sunecheon panta ton ochlon). Imperfect (kept on) active of συνχεω — suncheō or συνχυνω — sunchunō (υννω — ̇unnō), to pour together, to confuse as in Acts 2:6; Acts 9:22; Acts 19:31, Acts 19:32; Acts 21:31 and here to stir up by the same sort of confusion created by Demetrius in Ephesus where the same word is used twice (Acts 19:31, Acts 19:32). The Jews from Ephesus had learned it from Demetrius the silversmith. Laid hands on him Second aorist (ingressive, with endings of the first aorist, αν — ̇an) active indicative of επιβαλλω — epiballō old verb to lay upon, to attack (note repetition of επι — epi). They attacked and seized Paul before the charge was made. [source]
Romans 2:6 Who will render [ος αποδωσει]
Paul quotes Proverbs 24:12 as in 2 Timothy 4:14. See also Matthew 16:27; Revelation 22:12. The rendering will be in accord with the facts. [source]
1 Timothy 1:20 Hymenaeus and Alexander []
Comp. 2 Timothy 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:14. [source]
1 Timothy 1:20 Alexander [Αλεχανδρος]
Probably the same as the one in 2 Timothy 4:14, but not the Jew of that name in Acts 19:33, unless he had become a Christian since then. I delivered unto Satan (παρεδωκα τωι Σαταναι — paredōka tōi Satanāi). See this very idiom (παραδουναι τωι Σαταναι — paradounai tōi Satanāi) in 1 Corinthians 5:5. It is a severe discipline of apostolic authority, apparently exclusion and more than mere abandonment (1 Thessalonians 2:18; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 2:11), though it is an obscure matter. That they might be taught not to blaspheme Purpose clause with ινα — hina and first aorist passive subjunctive of παιδευω — paideuō For this use of this common late verb, see note on 1 Corinthians 11:32; 2 Corinthians 6:9. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Timothy 4:14 mean?

Alexander the coppersmith great to me harm did Will render to him Lord according to the deeds of him
Ἀλέξανδρος χαλκεὺς πολλά μοι κακὰ ἐνεδείξατο ἀποδώσει αὐτῷ Κύριος κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ

Ἀλέξανδρος  Alexander 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἀλέξανδρος  
Sense: son of Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus’s cross, Mk 5:2.
χαλκεὺς  coppersmith 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: χαλκεύς  
Sense: a worker in copper or iron, a smith.
πολλά  great 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
μοι  to  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
κακὰ  harm 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: κακός  
Sense: of a bad nature.
ἀποδώσει  Will  render 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποδίδωμι  
Sense: to deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own, to sell.
αὐτῷ  to  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Κύριος  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
κατὰ  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
ἔργα  deeds 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.