Who Was Alexander the Coppersmith? Paul’s Bitter Opponent

1 Timothy 1:20

20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2 Timothy 4

1 I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.

5 But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry.

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing.

9 Do your diligence to come shortly to me:

10 For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring with you, and the books, but especially the parchments.

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

15 Of whom be you ware also; for he has greatly withstood our words.

16 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.

17 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.

18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus stayed at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

21 Do your diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers.

22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Alexander the coppersmith was a prominent enemy of the faith who opposed the apostle Paul’s work and was instrumental in his final arrest and imprisonment7BC 920.8+1.

The Identity and Character of Alexander

Alexander was a man of considerable ability and a craftsman by tradeULe 109.5+1. While he was once associated with the believers as a teacher, he eventually departed from the faith and turned into a bitter advocate against the truth he once supportedRH July 18, 1907, par. 17+1. This apostasy led him to a state of spiritual ruin, described as making a "shipwreck" of his faith 1 Timothy 1:19LP 305.1. His opposition was not merely a difference of opinion; he and others like Hymenaeus did despite to the Spirit of grace by attributing Paul's revelations to the power of SatanLP 305.1. Because of his blasphemy and persistent efforts to harm the church, Paul eventually delivered him unto Satan so that he might learn not to blaspheme 1 Timothy 1:20BDOC 49.17+1.

Opposition at Ephesus and Troas

The scriptures and history record several key instances of Alexander’s hostility:

• The Theater Tumult: During the riot in Ephesus, the Jews thrust Alexander forward to direct the crowd's wrath away from themselves and exclusively toward Paul and his companionsTT 157.1+1. However, the crowd recognized him as a Jew and shouted him down for two hoursLP 144.2+1.

• Paul’s Final Arrest: Motivated by a desire for revenge because he could not defeat Paul’s arguments, Alexander effected the apostle's final arrest at the house of a disciple in Troas7BC 920.8+1.

• The Trial in Rome: When Paul stood before Emperor Nero to answer for his life, Alexander was there to oppose him, successfully blinding and confusing the minds of those presentSITI November 3, 1887, page 664.3. His influence was so great that during Paul’s first answer, no one stood with him, and all men forsook him 2 Timothy 4:14-1617LtMs, Ms 36, 1902, par. 16.

The Warning to Timothy

In his second letter to Timothy, written from a Roman prison while facing execution, Paul specifically warned his young associate to be on guard against this man 2 Timothy 4:14-157BC 916.9. Paul stated that Alexander had "greatly withstood our words" and had done him "much evil" 2 Timothy 4:14-15RH September 15, 1910, par. 4. Rather than seeking personal vengeance, Paul left the matter in the hands of God, stating, "the Lord reward him according to his works" 2 Timothy 4:14ARSH December 20, 1853, page 189.14.

Alexander in Theological and Moral Lessons

The fall of Alexander serves as a solemn example of the dangers of an unsubdued spirit and the rejection of truth4T 348.1+1.

• Self-Control: Alexander and other conquerors like Caesar found it easier to subdue nations than to rule their own turbulent tempers and spiritsCG 95.3+1.

• The Path to Ruin: By rejecting the truth and following a "by-way to hell," Alexander is grouped with figures like Judas and Ananias as a warning to those who would blaspheme the GospelTPP 153.5+1.

• Doctrinal Integrity: His collaboration with Hymenaeus often involved spreading "profane and vain babblings" and heresies regarding the resurrection, which acted like a canker to overthrow the faith of some 2 Timothy 2:16-18GEP 376.2+1.

Timothy, who was the first bishop of the church at Ephesus, was encouraged by Paul’s words to endure these similar trials with a sound mind and to continue in the holy scriptures learned from his childhood 1 Timothy 1:3+27BC 916.9+1.