2 Timothy 4:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

That is, he rises up and contradicts. He did not say, avenge yourself, punish him, or drive him away, although by the grace of God he could have done this. He says nothing of the kind and does not arm his disciple against him, but only commands him to withdraw from him, leaving punishment to God.

"You also beware of him." He did not say, cause him grief or punish him, although by the grace of the Holy Spirit he could have done this. Rather, he commands Timothy to guard himself, that is, to avoid and withdraw from him, leaving punishment to God. "For he greatly opposed our words." That is, he wages war against and resists the preaching of the Gospel.

"You also beware of him," he says, for through the malice and hatred of the devil, who enters into him and strengthens him, he greatly opposed our words.

This is a prediction, not an oath. The Apostle said this to console blessed Timothy and to teach him not to be distressed by the successive uprisings of opponents. It is in no way surprising that a coppersmith stirred up disturbances against the Apostle and brought him into danger. Those who live by the labor of their hands are prone to stir up the people. Thus Demetrius the silversmith armed the whole of Ephesus against Paul.

"You also guard yourself from him." Avoid him. "For he greatly opposed our words." He wages strong war against our sound doctrine and strongly resists it.

The Apostle Paul, informing Timothy of his own approaching death, asks him to come to him quickly. He says how all except Luke have abandoned him. He gives Timothy certain instructions for the journey, tells of the help from God that was shown to him after his first interrogation in court, and commands him to greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. He also sends greetings from certain Roman brethren.

Among his many personal enemies, the Apostle mentions only Alexander. This is certainly not because he was a remarkable man, but because he was as stubborn an opponent of Christianity as Demetrius the silversmith. Demetrius had stood at the head of those who rose against Paul in Ephesus, because he overthrew the service of Artemis. They earned much by producing statues and statuettes for that service. Perhaps no lesser self-interest moved Alexander the coppersmith to rise against Christianity. It seemed to take away the earnings of him and his companions, of whom there may have been many. According to John Chrysostom, the Apostle speaks as if saying, “He, Alexander, wages war against the Gospel and opposes it. This will not pass unpunished for him. Guard yourself.

In the following reports about himself and his work, the Apostle appears to us as one who has in no way lost courage, even in view of his approaching death. For example, he remembers the cloak left in Troas and some books that he needed. Speaking of his first appearance at trial or interrogation, he notes that no acquaintances or friends were seen around him. According to Roman custom, such people supported the accused with their voices. But the Lord helped him instead. He had promised to give His apostles the power of the Holy Spirit, so that they might stand firm at trial (Mt 10:19-20). Thus the preaching of the Gospel was fulfilled. Proclaimed in the world city, before representatives of world authority, it reached, so to speak, its culminating point.

"Guard yourself." He did not say, cause him grief, punish him, or drive him away, although by the grace of God he could have done this. He does nothing of the kind and does not arm his disciple against him, but only commands him to withdraw from him, leaving punishment to God, as holy Chrysostom says. "For he greatly opposed our words." That is, the words of preaching, as Oecumenius says, and the Gospel’s glad tidings, as blessed Theophylact says. He wages war against the Gospel and resists it, as holy Chrysostom says. He opposes both by word and by deed.