The Coppersmith’s Harm: Literary and Theological Context of 2 Timothy 4:14
2 Timothy 4:14 — Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ χαλκεὺς πολλά μοι κακὰ ἐνεδείξατο· ἀποδῴη αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ·
(“Alexander the coppersmith showed me many evils; may the Lord repay him according to his works.”)
This verse appears in the closing section of 2 Timothy, a letter filled with Paul’s final reflections, warnings, and exhortations. Here, he names Alexander the coppersmith as one who actively opposed him, doing “much evil.” The verse has two clauses: a narrative report of harm and an optative wish for divine justice. The grammar shifts from indicative to optative, indicating a move from recollection to petition for divine retribution. The syntax expresses personal pain without vengeance, entrusting justice to the Lord.
Grammatical Feature Analysis: Aorist Indicative and Optative of Wish
The first clause is narrative:
Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ χαλκεὺς πολλά μοι κακὰ ἐνεδείξατο
(“Alexander the coppersmith showed me many evils”).
The subject is Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ χαλκεὺς (“Alexander the coppersmith”). The verb ἐνεδείξατο is the aorist middle indicative, 3rd person singular from ἐνδείκνυμι, meaning “to demonstrate, to display.” In this context, it has a negative connotation—“to do or cause harm.” The direct object is πολλά… κακὰ (“many evils”), and μοι (“to me”) is a dative of disadvantage. The aorist tense marks a completed past action, summarizing a history of hostility.
The second clause shifts the mood entirely:
ἀποδῴη αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ
(“May the Lord repay him according to his works”).
This is a third person singular aorist optative from ἀποδίδωμι, “to repay, recompense.” The optative mood with no introductory verb of wishing signals a wish or prayer. The subject is ὁ Κύριος (“the Lord”), the indirect object is αὐτῷ (“to him”), and the standard of repayment is marked by the prepositional phrase κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ (“according to his works”).
Exegetical Implications of the Wish Construction
The aorist optative ἀποδῴη conveys a formal wish or imprecation, but with notable restraint. Paul does not command retribution or call for cursing; instead, he expresses hope that God will respond justly. This syntax allows Paul to speak truthfully about personal injury while entrusting vengeance to God (cf. Rom. 12:19).
The phrase κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ introduces a just standard of judgment. Paul is not acting out of vindictiveness, but invoking a biblical principle of retributive justice (cf. Ps. 62:12; Prov. 24:12; Rev. 22:12). The grammar supports a theology of divine impartiality.
Cross-Linguistic Comparisons and Historical Context
In Classical and Koine Greek, the optative is often used to express wishes, especially in formal or literary contexts. Here, the aorist optative of ἀποδίδωμι echoes Old Testament psalmic language, where God is asked to repay the wicked (e.g., Ps. 28:4, LXX).
Alexander may refer to the same person mentioned in 1 Tim. 1:20, who was delivered over to Satan. The noun χαλκεύς (“coppersmith”) identifies his trade, possibly implying that his opposition was both theological and occupational—perhaps even influencing or rallying others against Paul in Ephesus.
Theological and Literary Significance of Entrusting Judgment
Theologically, this verse shows Paul practicing what he preaches. He acknowledges the harm done to him but does not retaliate. The optative mood reflects a trust in God’s justice. Paul speaks truthfully, names the wrong, and turns the outcome over to the Lord.
Literarily, the contrast between ἐνεδείξατο and ἀποδῴη frames a movement from injury to entrusting. Paul recounts a real wrong (“he showed me many evils”), but the final word belongs to God’s justice. Syntax becomes a pastoral model for handling personal suffering within a framework of faith.
May the Lord Repay: Grammar as a Framework for Forgiveness and Justice
2 Timothy 4:14 demonstrates how grammar can preserve both justice and grace. The indicative recounts the harm honestly; the optative entrusts judgment to the Lord. Paul does not silence the truth, but neither does he seize vengeance. Instead, he models a response that is truthful, tempered, and theologically grounded.
In an age of retaliation, Paul’s grammar quietly witnesses to divine sovereignty: the Lord sees, the Lord knows, and the Lord repays—justly and righteously.
