Chapter
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Verse

2 Timothy 4:15

ESV Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.
NIV You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
NASB Be on guard against him yourself too, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.
CSB Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.
NLT Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.
KJV Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

What does 2 Timothy 4:15 mean?

Alexander caused Paul great harm (2 Timothy 4:14) and was apparently still doing so when Paul wrote this letter. As a result, Paul warned Timothy against him as well. Alexander was not merely a skeptic, but "strongly opposed" the gospel. He was a coppersmith who may have opposed Paul because he made his living creating copper gods and goddesses for his community similar to Demetrius the silversmith in Acts 19:23–41.

If this man is the same Alexander as in 1 Timothy 1:20, he was a false teacher and coppersmith in Ephesus who had been a problem to both Paul and Timothy. He was against the gospel and tried to cause problems in the church. God would judge him (2 Timothy 4:14), which may connect with Paul's words in 1 Timothy 1:20 about Hymenaeus and Alexander being "handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme." In the prior verse, Paul cited Psalm 28 in reference to Alexander, clearly indicating that he was not a believer.
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