Pay Back
2Tim 4:13-15 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. 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.
Verse 13 seems good for not much more than as a Bible trivia question. There's even uncertainty as to what exactly he referred to here. Some even view the term for "cloak" actually referring to a book. The scrolls and parchments were either Old Testament scripture, or versions of his own writings, or just materials to write on. But what we might gather is that despite the circumstances and his possible impending death, he continued to study the Bible and write letters. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed." John 8:31 If the genuineness of your faith is reflected by you zeal to study and apply the Bible, how would you measure up?
Though the name "Alexander" is used a few times in the New Testament, it is unclear whether any of them is this "Alexander". Perhaps for this reason Paul specified this was the Alexander who was the metal worker, though while it doesn't help us to distinguish whether he is one of the "Alexanders" of the NT, Timothy would understand the reference. One possibility is that, being a metal worker, he may have been an idol maker much as the circumstance which we read of a situation in Ephesus where a riot broke out, having its inception in this: "A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business." Acts 19:24,25 And so they incensed the crowds to a riot.
Another possibility is Alexander was an apostate, having left the faith much as those mentioned in 1John 2:19 For the greatest deal of harm is in the realm of ideas and the fact is that there is no comparison between the basis of other religions at the time such as polytheism with its idolatry and Christianity being validated by the in the historic fact of Jesus miracles and his resurrection from the dead. And Paul had previously mentioned of the danger of apostates in this letter. "Their teaching will spread like gangrene." 2Tim 2:17 Be wary of apostates.
2Tim 4:13-15 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. 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.
Verse 13 seems good for not much more than as a Bible trivia question. There's even uncertainty as to what exactly he referred to here. Some even view the term for "cloak" actually referring to a book. The scrolls and parchments were either Old Testament scripture, or versions of his own writings, or just materials to write on. But what we might gather is that despite the circumstances and his possible impending death, he continued to study the Bible and write letters. Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed." John 8:31 If the genuineness of your faith is reflected by you zeal to study and apply the Bible, how would you measure up?
Though the name "Alexander" is used a few times in the New Testament, it is unclear whether any of them is this "Alexander". Perhaps for this reason Paul specified this was the Alexander who was the metal worker, though while it doesn't help us to distinguish whether he is one of the "Alexanders" of the NT, Timothy would understand the reference. One possibility is that, being a metal worker, he may have been an idol maker much as the circumstance which we read of a situation in Ephesus where a riot broke out, having its inception in this: "A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business." Acts 19:24,25 And so they incensed the crowds to a riot.
Another possibility is Alexander was an apostate, having left the faith much as those mentioned in 1John 2:19 For the greatest deal of harm is in the realm of ideas and the fact is that there is no comparison between the basis of other religions at the time such as polytheism with its idolatry and Christianity being validated by the in the historic fact of Jesus miracles and his resurrection from the dead. And Paul had previously mentioned of the danger of apostates in this letter. "Their teaching will spread like gangrene." 2Tim 2:17 Be wary of apostates.
