A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 2 · Subpart 12 – Subpart 13
VERSES 14, 15. Alexander the Copper-Smith did me much evill, the Lord reward him according to his workes.
VERSE 15. Of whom be thou ware also, for he hath greatly withstood our words.
IN these words we have a relation of the injuries and oppositions which Paul met withall from Alexander an open and profest enemy to Paul and his Doctrine, where we have.
1. A Narration or Complaint set forth in an entire proposition, Alexander the Copper-smith hath done me much evil.
2. An Imprecation, The Lord reward him according to his workes. Alexanders Opposition springing from the extremity of malice to the power of Godlynesse, he curseth him in the Name of the Lord, and not out of any private revenge, but in a holy zeal to Gods glory.
3. Here is a Caution to Timothy to shun him, of whom be thou ware also. q. d. Thou seest what an enemy he is to me thy Father, trust him not for he will betray the son too.
4. Here is the Reason of this Caution, why he should shun the society of Alexander, viz. because of his desperate condition, he being one that openly and maliciously opposed the Truth of God, and greatly withstood Pauls words.
Alexander the Copper-smith, &c.
There is a great Controversie amongst Interpreters who this Alexander should be, and it is conceived by the most judicious that it was that Alexander mentioned, Acts 19.33.
Who was a Jew, and dwelt at Ephesus, who was on Pauls side at the first, and sought to appease the tumult stirred up at Ephesus against him, where he had like to have lost his life for appearing on his side; yet now he maketh shipwrack of the Faith, and opposeth the People of God, revileing and traducing them, which the Apostle calleth blasphemeing, 1 Timothy 2.20.
The Copper-smith.
A man of a mean Condition, one that got his living by his hammer, and hard labour in an inferiour Calling.foreign, faber ararius. … He was sometime Pauls Disciple and profest the Truth, but now the scales are turned, and of a Professour, he is become a persecutor.
Hath done me much evil.
The word which we render hath done, in the Original signifieth to shew. foreign. Mala multa mihi ostendit. Vulg.It is an Hebraism, they put shewing for doing, Psal. 4.6. Who will shew us any good (.i.) who will effect our desires in that kind,foreign, ostendo, demonstro. so Psal. 60.3. thou hast shewed thy people hard things (.i.) thou hast caused them to see and endure hard things probably he might by his agents and friends stir up Nero against him as a seditious person, a broacher of strange doctrine, and and enemy to the Jewish religion which was then tolerated at Rome. What this evil was he shewes in the next Verse, He resisted our words and opposed the truth which Paul delivered.
The Lord reward him according to his works which he hath done and still endeavours to do against me and the truth of God which I profess. He now delivers him up to the Justice of God who is a righteous Judge, and will reward every man according to his works. The Vulgar to mollify this Imprecation have put the word in the future Tense, and so would make it a Est Votum non Vaticinium.Prediction and not an Imprecation. The Lord shall reward him, but the It is not foreign redde, sed foreign reddat.word is Optative in the Original, and implyes a heavy Imprecation. The Apostle by a prophetical Spirit saw manifest signes of reprobation in this man and thereupon denounceth this curse against him.Optat non affectu vindictae, sed zelo justitiae impium Alexandrum puni…i à Deo. à Lap.
Quest. But how doth this Imprecation agree with that Apostolical sweetness and mildness which was in the Apostle?
Answ. The Apostle spake not these words out of any private spleen, but o…t of Prophetical zeal he desires the Lord to execute his justice on this incurable Apostate. So that it was an Imprecation darted by a particular motion of the Holy Ghost, and so not to be imitated by us who have not that extraordinary measure of the Spirit as Paul had.
Of whom be thou ware also.
Observe him and take heed of him foreign, significat observare, devitare, cavere. Acts 21.25. 2 Pet. 3.17. 1 Iohn 5. ult.for he goeth up and down stirring up the Jews against the Gospel. q. d. The reason why I mention him at this time is that thou maist shun him as an excommunicate person and one delivered up to Satan. Since then he is an incurable Apostate, avoid him as the Pest and Poysener of humane Society.
For he hath greatly withstood our words, much more will he withstand thine. q. d. He hath not onelyonly resisted us, but which is worse he hath Violently and foreign. Vehementer obstitit. Beza.Vehemently resisted the truth which I have preached to the world. The one is but a personal persecution against charity, the other is a doctrinal offence against piety and so far more hainous.
Observations.
1. Great Professors may become grievous Persecutors. This Alexander was a noted Professor and within the pale of the Church else the Apostle could not have excommunicated him and cast him out of the Church if he had never been in; and if he had not profest the faith, he could not have made ship-wrack of it, 1 Tim. 1.19, 20. Yea, this man was neer to Martyrdom (as Calvin Comment on Acts 19.33. Corruptio optimi est pessima.Calvin conceives) yet now he turns a desperate opposer of the truth. The best things when corrupted become the worst. The most generous wine makes the sharpest vinegar, and the finest flesh when putrified becomes most fulsom. These Apostates know the state of the Church better then others, and so are able to do it more mischief; besides God in judgment gives them up to a reprobate sense, and the Devil comes with seven worse spirits and re-enters, which makes the latter end of these men worse then their beginning. Nicholas a great professor and one of the seven Deacons yet at last fell into foul errours, pleading for community of wives,V. Mr. Ant. Burgess on I…h. 17.12. Ser. 70, 71, 72. and the lawfulness of adultery; hence came the Sect of the Nicolaitans, Rev. 2.6. Iudas went far yet at last sells his Master.
Be not then offended when you see Professors turn Blaspemers, and Preachers Persecutors, it should grieve us, but not discourage us. It was so in the Apostles time, it is so now, and it will be so to the end of the world. There will be some such Tares mixt with Gods wheat, and a Iudas amongst the very Apostles. We must look to be hooted at as signes and wonders, as mad-men and Monsters and that in Israel, Isay 8.18.
Quest. But doth not this prove the Apostasy of the Saints since Alexander is said to make ship-wrack of the faith?
Answ. Not at all. There is no arguing from the shadow to the substance, from the Meteor to the fixed Star; because Hypocrites, temporary beleevers and carnal professors fall away, therefore real Saints and such as are effectually called may fall away, is a manifest Non Sequitur.But of this more fully in my Thesis de perseverantia Sanctorum.
2. Observation.
2. It is lawful sometimes and in some cases to name men. Alexander a malicious, incorrigible enemy is named that every one may shun him. But of this before in Verse 10.
3. Observation.
3. The enemies of Gods people many times are sordid men. Alexander a Smith, a man of no learning, of mean education, by professing not a Gold-Smith nor a Silver-Smith but a Copper-Smith, and by disposition an open enemy to the truth: This contemptible man opposeth the Preaching and Practice of chosen vessels an eminently learned Paul. Thus it pleaseth God to exercise and humble his choicest servants by vile and worthless men. Iob complains of such, Iob 19.10. and 30.1. David complains that the abjects and dregs of the people made head against him, Psal. 35.15, 16. So Acts 17.5. And this was prophesied longe since by Isay (3.5.) that such disordered times should come that every boy should behave himself proudly against the Ancient, and the base against the Honourable and men of worth. It is a trouble to ingenious natures to be molested by such disingenuous ones who want common humanity.Aeneae magni dextrâ cadis. Virg. To fall by the hand of an Achilles or some eminent person for Learning and Valour, is some honour. But to be vext by such Hows and Haggards, such Coppingars and Colliars, as are famous for nothing, but Ignorance and Impudence, but malice and wickedness, is a great burden. But it may comfort us that Christ himself was thus exercised before us, He endured the V. Bohemus Medit. 27. p. 71.contradiction of sinners. (Heb. 12.3.) If we be contradicted by wise men we can the better bear it, but to be contradicted by foolish rebellious sinners, goes hard; yet such is the vanity of the Vulgar, that one such an ignorant and brazen faced sot (especially if he have liberty and a little success) is cryed up by them as the onelyonly man, and one such a Demetrius though but a Smith pleading for gain, shall be heard before a Paul pleading for Christ and Heaven,Talium hominum improbitas semper fidem in mundo invenit, ut interdum plus difficultatis & negotii exhibeat maligna & impudens inscitia, quàm summum acumen cum doctrina conjunctum. Calvin. Acts 19.24, 25.
Hath shewed me much evil. 4. Observation.
4. Wicked men that oppose Gods truth and people do but labour in vain, They do but Ostendit, dixit, non fecit, quòd impii adversus pios animum magis ostendere, quàm explere possint. Aquinas in locum.Shew what they would do, they cannot bring their wicked desires into acts according to their intents. Their intent is to root up the Name of Israel, and to destroy the Gospel, and by opposing them they increase the one and spread the other, Acts 8.1.Plures efficimur quoties metimur. Tertul. Wicked men serve Gods will though against their own wills. Their designs Accidentally, though not Intentionally fulfil Gods will. Iosephs brethren little thought to have advanced him by selling him, yet God had so decreed it & their selling him furthers it. Pharaohs daughter thought little to Nurse up one that should be so signal an opposite to her father. Thus God catcheth the wise in their own craft, he makes their V. M. Marshalls Ser. on Isay 8.9. preacht 1668.Plots to become their plagues, and their own doings to become their undoings, he snares them in the work of their own hands, Iob 5.12, 13. Psal. 9.16.
The Lord reward him according to his works. 5. Observation.
5. Imprecations against the malicious and incurable enemies of the Church are lawful. David a man of Prophetical Spirit frequently used them against such men, Psal. 69.22. to 29. and 10.9, 6. to 22. So did Moses and others, Deut. 27. Iudg. 5.23. Ier. 17.18. Lam. 3.64, 65, 66. So did Paul, 1 Cor. 16.22. Gal. 5.12. These men had a Prophetical Spirit and saw into the final estate of those whom they cursed and so might better do it then we who want that extraordinary gift of the Spirit.
Object. Christ commands us to bless our enemies and not to curse them, Matth. 5.44. and so doth Paul, Rom. 12.14.
Answ. We must distinguish of enemies. 1. Some are Private enemies and onelyonly wrong us. 2. Others are Publick enemies and such as oppose the truth of God, of these also there are two sorts:
1. Some are Curable, and they are such as persecute the truth and people of God out of Ignorance and blind superstition; for such we must pray, so did Christ, Luke 23.34. and Steven, Acts 7.60. Many have been converted by such Prayers, as those Iews, Acts 2. and Paul by Stevens Prayers.
2. There are malicious and incurable enemies who wittingly and wilfully oppose the truth of God out of malice, so did Alexander here and therefore the Apostle curseth him; and such we may pray against. Yet least any should offend in Imitating the Saints in their Imprecations, these Rules must be observed.
1. Imprecations against particular persons must be rarely used. We must not with the Prima semper irarum …ela sunt maledicta, & quae non poss…mus imbecilles, optam…s irati. Votis malis pro armis utimur. Salvian.men of the world fly presently to curses.
1. Because we now want that Spirit of Prophesy to discern who are incurable enemies, which the Saints then had.
2. It is very hard to keep a right measure in these Imprecations, and not to mingle our own private affections with them.
3. It is safer to pray Indefinitely against the enemies of truth in general, as against Antichrist, the Turk, and those profest enemies of Gods truth and people.
4. It is safer praying against the Plots of wicked men then against their persons. So did David (2 Sam. 15.31.) he prayes against the plots and counsel of Achitophel so Peter and Iohn pray against the threatnings of wicked men, Acts 4.29. Now Lord behold their Threatnings.
5. Pray not absolutely but conditionally. 1. That if they belong to Gods Election he would be pleased to call them. 2. If this will not do but they persevere in their persecuting the people of God, then beseech him to This may stand well with Charity because it is no more then what we may desire for our selves. viz. That God would rather correct us then suffer us to go on in sin.correct them, and to lay some temporal chastisement on them for their amendment; so David, Psal. 83.17. Fill their faces with shame that they may seek thy Name. 3. If it appear to us that they are incorrigible and incurable enemies to God and his truth,Simpliciter li…et imprecari alteri malum, non sub ratione malt, sed justi. Aquinas 22. Q …5. then we may desire as Paul doth here that God would glorifie his Justice in their destruction. It is not for us by open force and violence to resist them, Prayers and Tears are our best Weapons; and therefore Paul goeth to God by Prayer for aid.Si apud Deum deposueris injuri…s ipse est ultor; si damnum restitutor, si dolorem medicus est, si mortem resus…itatur. Tertul. The Lord render to him according to his works: This is the best revenge when we call on God, and bring him in to our help, committing our cause to him who judgeth Righteously.
6. Observation.
9. God observes all the wayes of wicked men, and first or last he will reward them according to their works. So much is implyed in this Apostolical Imprecation. He eyes all the wayes of men, and they shall have according to their doing, Psal. 28.4, 5. Ier. 32.19. 2 Cor. 11.25. Rev. 18.6. Be not then offended at the prosperity of wicked men, for though a sinner do evil an hundred times and his dayes be prolonged, yet in the end it shall not be well with him, Eccles. 8.12, 13.
VERS. 15. Of whom be thou ware.
1. Observe,
WE must shun the society of incurable sinners. Whilest men are hopeful and curable we must try all means to win them. But when we perceive that men are obstinate and incurable we must leave them least we be infected by them, Rom. 16.17. Tit. 3.10. 2 Iohn 10. But of this at large on 2 Tim. 3.5.
For he hath greatly withstood our words. 2. Observation.
2. Opposing of the truth is very grievous to a gracions Soul. Paul doth not complain of any personal trouble (though he were now in Prison) but that which afflicted him was that Alexander should thus maliciously resist the truth and hinder the Gospel. God hath but two things which are dear to him in this world. viz. His Truth and his People and these should be dear to us. Our Zeal for them should consume us, as it did Christ, Iohn 2.17. Gods people are baptized with fire as well as with water, and must be hot and not luke-warm or indifferent in the things of God.
3. Observation.
3. Wicked men do not so much oppose our persons as our Preaching, They hate us not as men, but as Ministers, because we publish the truth that condemns their wicked practises. The truth hath many opposers. 1. Sometimes Learned men oppose it by their wit, disputing and writing against it. 2. Tyrants labour to suppress it by cruelty, and great men by their authority. Never was power yet in the hands of men, but for the most part it hath been turned against the best men, for whose sake Government was principally ordained. 3. Inferiour persons by railing on the Preachers and Publishers of it. Truth hath a searching, discovering, condemning power which makes the wicked so to hate it.