2 Timothy 4:15 (LSB)

Passage

Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our words.

Nearby Context

2 Timothy 4:13 When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the parchments.

2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith showed me much harm; the Lord will award him according to his deeds.

2 Timothy 4:15 Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our words.

2 Timothy 4:16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them.

2 Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching might be fulfilled, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "guard", "against", "yourself", "vigorously", "opposed", and "words". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "guard" and "against", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "Alexander the coppersmith showed me much harm..." into verse 16's "At my first defense no one supported...", so "guard" and "against" belong inside that flow. In 2 Timothy context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "guard" and "against" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.