The Apostle Paul wrote the following words in 2 Timothy 4:14-15: “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.”

As with David’s pleas to God in the Book of Psalms to take revenge on his enemies who had harmed him or sought to harm him, many would say that Paul was wrong to write what he wrote here.  Isn’t Paul supposed to forgive Alexander concerning all the evil he had done to Paul?  No.  Wouldn’t the Christian thing to do here be “to just let all that stuff go”?  Absolutely not.  Paul was committing vengeance to God here, just like he should have.  

The idea that people need to forgive their enemies who are unrepentant about wrongfully seeking to harm them is a destructive lie (one that you can easily picture a cruel oppressor telling their victims or telling others concerning their victims).  God Himself does not forgive people without repentance which is proven by deeds.  The concept of unconditional forgiveness from God towards man is very wicked and blasphemous.  The concept that cruel oppressors ought to receive unconditional forgiveness from their victims only puts an impossible weight upon the victim and enables the oppressor in their cruelty.  

Yet note this also: It is right to let small personal offenses against yourself go- when not done to the point of notably harming anyone nor enabling those who have been proven to have calculated, malicious intentions.  This reality does not warrant the teaching of unconditional forgiveness.  

Romans 12:17-19 says: “Recompense to no man evil for evil.  Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

This is exactly what Paul was doing in 2 Timothy.  Paul also was not telling Timothy to hire a hit-man to harm Alexander. What was just read from Romans 12 is a command to not administer vengeance outside of one’s jurisdiction but to rather commit vengeance to God and God-ordained authority.  In some cases, like with an armed robber, that might still mean harming the criminal in order to stop the attack- since everyone has a right to defend themselves and a responsibility to defend those in evident danger whom they are reasonably able to help.  Reading through Romans chapter 12 into chapter 13 shows how God has delegated vengeance in a way to earthly authorities.  Committing vengeance to the Lord also means reporting wrongdoing to earthly authority according to the wrong that was done and who has jurisdiction over the matter (when that’s possible and reasonable).  

Paul’s prayer concerning Alexander in 2 Timothy 4 is a righteous prayer.  Even those who remained faithful to the Lord and gone to be with the Lord express such prayers in heaven.

Revelation 6:9-10: “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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