TUESDAY July 15, 2025

Resisting God’s Word

Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
2 Timothy 4:14-15

What harm did Alexander the coppersmith do to Paul? In 1 Timothy 1:19-20, Paul told Timothy:

...some having rejected [the Christian faith], have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Paul spent his life laboring and preaching the Gospel. He wanted people to be saved, whereas Alexander was resisting the Gospel. He would not listen to Paul’s exhortations. The Apostle saw him as a great hindrance to the work of God. Alexander blasphemed and opposed God’s Word, when Paul believed and valued the Scriptures. Paul was willing to die for the truth! Was Alexander willing to die opposing it?

Paul delivered Alexander and Hymenaeus to Satan, trusting the Lord to repay him according to his works. Paul sought God’s divine intervention upon his adversary. Vengeance is God’s business: Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12:19).

Timothy needed to be warned of Alexander. He really did much harm to Paul, and he had the capability to do the same to him. Timothy was put on alert to be careful with Alexander. He was not a good person.

I have found that there are people like Alexander within the organized church. They cause harm and destruction when opposing what is being taught from the pulpit. They resist biblical doctrine. They attempt to stain the ministry. I will not put up with division; people like this will be asked to leave. I pray that God will show them the error of their ways so they can be convicted and led to repentance.

We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.
~John R.W. Stott~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!