Do Not Repay Evil for Evil

"Alexander the copper-smith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: of whom be thou aware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words."  2 Tim. 4:14-15

Paul's words in this verse need to be carefully considered.  They are much more than an acknowledgement of some vague, and ill-defined action of someone against his person from the past.  These are words of confession. The individual is named and identified, and so is his rancid behavior.  Paul is not one to minimize the hurtful and demeaning power of sinful actions, and neither should we.

Alexander, whoever he was, had sinned against the person of Paul. In fact, Paul said that "Alexander did me much evil" without feeling the need to add an a pseudo-empty statement that Alexander was a nice guy.  Paul was not one for torturous self-victimization.  Paul knew that Alexander's actions defined who he was.  There was no ambiguity here or an attempt to rationalize, or explain away the tenacious reality of Alexander's actions.

In fact, Paul's word for evil that Paul uses is 'kaka' in the Greek Text, and it is an extraordinary word that means one who is evil, or engages in malicious actions, and as such seeks to harm others.  The word evil is general, and therefore subject to ambiguity, but 'kaka' both exposes the character of the individual, and the nature of the actions that are a result of the inherent nature.

Paul could have become embittered by the actions of Alexander, and allowed him to drain the energy from his powerful and prolific life, but he chose otherwise. Paul chose to name the sinful action.  Naming the sinful action that someone has done to you is the beginning of healing.  Naming the sinful action as confession does not turn it into inward aggression or self-destructive hostility.

Naming the sinful action whether done to you in the ancient past, or recent past, or today releases you from pent up rage and resentment.  Paul has identified for us appropriate self-care, and appropriate self-therapy.  In other words, Paul knew who had done what to him, and he decided not to sacrifice his spiritual balance upon the altar of unforgiveness.

Paul did not want Alexander's spiritual plague to infect his spiritual progress, and power.  Paul knew that he could have allowed Alexander's actions to create a wound within his heart but he said 'No' to slavery of the spirit.  If Paul had repaid Alexander 'evil for evil' he would have surrendered himself to sinful actions and behavior.  Remember how King Saul treated David?  Do you remember that Saul threw spears at David and tried to pin him to the wall?  But David never threw a spear at Saul.  David put Saul's actions toward him into the hands of God.

Paul is following David's example by saying of Alexander 'the Lord reward him according to his deeds.'  This is not nonsense this is good sense.  Are you being very productive and prosperous where you are?  I f so, you will have an Alexander somewhere to harass you. Can I get an Amen?!  Let me explain that releasing your Alexander's behavior toward you to God is not passive. It is a spiritually mature action.  You have decided to choose life.

Today, beloved, if you have an Alexander seeking to undermine you choose life.  This is a great mantra.  "I choose life"  and Alexander's action's will be upon his on head.  He who digs a hole will fall into it.  Choose life today.  Go do something positive for God, others, and yourself today.

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For more information about Dr. Josiah Rich and his teaching ministry, please visit his website.