B-A-C
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- Joined
- Dec 18, 2008
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In Acts Paul is passing through Ephesus. He is talking to the people about idols... gods made by men.
Acts 19:26; "You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all.
Now of course many of the people weren't happy about this.
Acts 19:28; When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
It seems Artemis was one of the major "gods" in Ephesus at the time.
Acts 19:32; So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
Acts 19:33; Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly.
Along comes someone named Alexander causing trouble and stirring up the people. Now why were idols so important to Alexander?
If we jump over to 1st Timothy Alexander comes up again.
1 Tim 1:18; This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,
1 Tim 1:19; keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
1 Tim 1:20; Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
Paul tells Timothy to keep up the good fight. He says some people have made a "shipwreck" of their faith.
He says that Alexander is one of these people. Much like the son in 1 Corinthians 5:5; Paul says he has handed this person over to Satan.
I have sometimes wondered what this phrase means... "handed over to Satan". 1 Tim 1:20 and 1 Cor 5:5; are the only two places I have seen this.
2 Tim 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
In 2nd Timothy we see that Alexander "the coppersmith". (Most likely the same metal-worker in Ephesus that made idols)
But in 2nd Timothy, he doesn't hand this person over to Satan... he simply says "the Lord will repay him according to his deeds".
It seems the Lord will "repay" us for the evil things we do after a certain point.
I can't prove it... but I have wondered if this the same Alexander who was once a priest.
It says in Acts 4 that Alexander was high-priest descent.
Acts 4:6; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.
Perhaps this is why Paul says his faith is now a shipwreck.
Acts 19:26; "You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all.
Now of course many of the people weren't happy about this.
Acts 19:28; When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
It seems Artemis was one of the major "gods" in Ephesus at the time.
Acts 19:32; So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
Acts 19:33; Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly.
Along comes someone named Alexander causing trouble and stirring up the people. Now why were idols so important to Alexander?
If we jump over to 1st Timothy Alexander comes up again.
1 Tim 1:18; This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,
1 Tim 1:19; keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
1 Tim 1:20; Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
Paul tells Timothy to keep up the good fight. He says some people have made a "shipwreck" of their faith.
He says that Alexander is one of these people. Much like the son in 1 Corinthians 5:5; Paul says he has handed this person over to Satan.
I have sometimes wondered what this phrase means... "handed over to Satan". 1 Tim 1:20 and 1 Cor 5:5; are the only two places I have seen this.
2 Tim 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
In 2nd Timothy we see that Alexander "the coppersmith". (Most likely the same metal-worker in Ephesus that made idols)
But in 2nd Timothy, he doesn't hand this person over to Satan... he simply says "the Lord will repay him according to his deeds".
It seems the Lord will "repay" us for the evil things we do after a certain point.
I can't prove it... but I have wondered if this the same Alexander who was once a priest.
It says in Acts 4 that Alexander was high-priest descent.
Acts 4:6; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.
Perhaps this is why Paul says his faith is now a shipwreck.
