Alexander the Coppersmith
Alexander the Coppersmith was a metalworker identified in 2 Timothy 4:14-15 as someone who caused the apostle Paul great harm and vigorously opposed his proclamation of the gospel. Writing from prison, Paul warns Timothy to guard against this individual, stating that the Lord would repay him according to his deeds rather than calling for personal retaliation. The reference likely connects to earlier disciplinary actions noted in 1 Timothy 1:20 involving an Alexander who had shipwrecked his faith through false teaching. This brief account underscores the real opposition and interpersonal conflicts that marked early Christian ministry while highlighting Paul's pastoral concern for Timothy's protection and perseverance.
Biography
- Occupation
- Coppersmith
- Era
- New Testament (c. AD 64-67)
Did You Know?
The only New Testament reference to Alexander the coppersmith appears in 2 Timothy 4:14-15, where Paul warns Timothy to beware of him because he had caused significant harm, possibly by denouncing the apostle to Roman officials during his final imprisonment.
As a chalkeus, or worker in copper and bronze, Alexander likely belonged to the influential artisan guilds of Ephesus or similar cities, which played key roles in promoting the imperial cult and crafting statues of Artemis, creating direct tension with Paul's ministry.
Paul's prediction that the Lord would repay Alexander according to his deeds echoes the language of divine retribution found in the Psalms and Proverbs, indicating the apostle's reliance on scriptural precedent rather than personal retaliation.
Some early church traditions and commentators have speculated that Alexander's opposition contributed to Paul's execution under Nero, though the biblical text itself remains silent on the exact nature of the harm inflicted.
The specification of Alexander's occupation distinguishes him from at least two other men named Alexander in the New Testament, underscoring how common the name was among first-century Jews and Greeks while highlighting this individual's unique threat to the early church.
Key Passages
Alexander Did Me Much Evil
2 Timothy 4:14-15
This passage teaches us to entrust those who oppose our faith to God's perfect justice while remaining wisely alert.
14lexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: