Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
2 Timothy 4:15 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 15. 15Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse warns Timothy to guard himself because Alexander strongly opposed the message.
Read It With
- 2 Timothy 4:9–15
Read 2 Timothy 4:15 with 4:9–15. This verse warns Timothy to guard himself because Alexander strongly opposed the message. The complete unit establishes this movement: The writer asks Timothy to come soon, reports coworkers' locations, requests Mark, cloak, books, and parchments, and warns that Alexander the metalworker caused great harm and strongly opposed the message, leaving repayment to the Lord.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The letter moves from elevated farewell imagery into ordinary needs and relational complexity, including a bounded warning that does not commission retaliation. Within that movement, this verse warns Timothy to guard himself because Alexander strongly opposed the message.
Follow the Context
- Timothy is asked to come quickly.
- Demas has left for Thessalonica, while Crescens and Titus have gone to other regions.
- Luke alone remains, and Mark is requested as useful for service.
- Tychicus has been sent to Ephesus.
- A cloak, books, and especially parchments are requested.
- Alexander the metalworker is said to have caused great harm; repayment is entrusted to the Lord.
- Timothy is warned to guard against Alexander because he strongly opposed the words.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“of whom be thou ware also”
In plain language: Use prudent caution based on reported, relevant opposition.
warns Timothy to guard himself because Alexander strongly opposed the message. Non-retaliation is compatible with proportionate warning and protective boundaries.
Why it matters: The wording carries interpretive or ethical risk that requires the full unit and its stated limits.
How certain? strongWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
The warning does not authorize collective punishment, rumor, unsupported accusation, or recruiting readers into a personal feud.
What Remains True
Non-retaliation is compatible with proportionate warning and protective boundaries.
How It Can Shape Life
- Share necessary evidence with responsible people and allow review.
Teach It Back
Explain 2 Timothy 4:15's contribution to 2 Timothy 4:9–15: warns Timothy to guard himself because Alexander strongly opposed the message. Include what the surrounding verses add, the stated uncertainty, and what this verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 2 Timothy 4:9–15 — Urgent Requests Mix Loneliness, Work, and CautionSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 2 Timothy 4:9–15, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, morphology targets, and base text for original-language discussion.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/2Tim.txt, 4:9–15
Open the 2 Timothy Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 2 Timothy with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual alternatives, and interpretive notes.
Exact location: NET Bible official 2 Timothy PDF, 4:9–15 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 2 Timothy PDF ↗