2Ti 4:14-18 “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 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. 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. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
It is thought that Paul’s first letter to Timothy was written two to four years before his second letter. In his first letter, he warns Timothy concerning a man named Alexander who Paul says he “delivered unto Satan” that he might learn not to blaspheme (1 Tim 1:20). It appears here that Alexander is still opposing the truth of God. He has apparently been a great detractor of Paul’s labors.
As servants of God, we must always be aware that there are those who oppose the truth of Jesus Christ with great malice. Rather than going to open war with such (whether with words or other means), we need to keep our confidence placed in the word of God. The Lord will reward them according to their works. Paul was not summoning vengeance on Alexander but simply stating the truth of God’s word against such as deny Him.
Paul’s second letter to Timothy was apparently written during his second Roman imprisonment. It was a time of great persecution for those who desired to follow the teaching of Jesus. Paul had already stated earlier in this letter that the brethren in Asia were “turned away” from him. The persecution was so great at that time that the disciples that had been with Paul were afraid to make a stand in his defense.
When Paul stood to answer the charges against him, none of those he had ministered to came to stand by him. There may be times in our service to God when we feel that our friends have all forsaken us. Those we love may lose heart and flee in times of strong doubt. These have not forsaken us out of malice, as Alexander did Paul, but out of fear for their own well-being.
Like Paul, we should desire to be able to have compassion for those who are afraid to take a stand. Notice that he prayed for them that God would show them mercy in their time of doubt. He did not excuse their abandonment of him or the gospel. However, he did desire that they should receive mercy.
Paul’s attitude toward Alexander as one who had blasphemed and his desire for mercy on the saints in Asia both prove the truth of his next statement. Despite these situations (notwithstanding), the Lord stood by him and strengthened him. When all the others forsook him and left him to face harsh imprisonment, the Lord stood with him. The Lord gave him grace to continue to declare the truth of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
God saw to it that His word was still preached with power unto all the nations. He had kept Paul’s life even though he was in prison and nearing the end of his earthly journey. Like the Hebrew children with Nebuchadnezzar, Paul was certain that God would deliver him out of the hands of the Romans (Dan 3:12-18). He was confident that when his earthly house was finished, that God would preserve him unto His heavenly kingdom.
May God give us grace to know that we never stand alone in our trials but that the Lord stands with us to the glory of God!
