2 Timothy 2:17

2 Timothy 2:17

And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

a. NLT: This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus.

b. NIV: Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

c. Young’s Literal Translation: and their word as a gangrene will have pasture, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus,

d. Amplified Bible: And their teaching will devour; it will eat its way like cancer or spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus.

e. Worrell Translation: and their word will spread, as a gangrene; of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus.

f. Wuest Translation: And their word will spread as does cancer, of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

1. “And their word will eat as doth a canker…”

a. And [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. their [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

c. word [Strong: 3056 logos log'-os from 3004; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.]

d. will eat [Strong: 2192 echo ekh'-o, including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; (used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

e. [Strong: 3542 nome nom-ay' feminine from the same as 3551; pasture, i.e. (the act) feeding (figuratively, spreading of a gangrene), or (the food) pasturage:--X eat, pasture.] [Zodhiates: Pasture, the act of feeding. Used metaphorically for a feeding, eating, the spreading as gangrene.]

f. as [Strong: 5613  hos hoce probably adverb of comparative from 3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.]

g. doth a canker [Strong: 1044 gaggraina gang'-grahee-nah from graino (to gnaw); an ulcer ("gangrene"):--canker.] [Zodhiates: Gangrene or mortification which, unless properly treated, spreads from the place affected and eats away or consumes the neighboring parts of the body and at length destroys the whole body.]

1). Combining the two verses, it seems to be saying that profane, fruitless and empty words that are the opposite of, or opposing the sacred, opposing the truth of Scripture are to be avoided because dwelling on them will increase ungodliness. The words themselves will eat like gangrene. It will be a breeding ground or a feeding ground for ungodliness.

2). This verse reinforces the principle of the power of words. Here Paul writes that words, profane, unhallowed, and secular will further ungodliness. These kinds of words will eat like gangrene and instead of flesh it eats something else. The next two verses reveal just what it eats. Profane , secular and empty words will eat away at our faith.

2. “…of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus;”

a. of whom [Strong: 3739 hos hos, including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

b. is [Strong: 2076 esti es-tee' third person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

c. Hymeneus [Unger’s Bible Dictionary] “Pertaining to Hymen, the god of marriage, a person in Ephesus twice named in the Epistles of Timothy, who along with Alexander (1 Timothy 1:20) and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:18) had departed from the truth in faith and practice. The chief doctrinal error of these persons consisted in maintaining that “the resurrection was past already” 2 Timothy 2:18. The precise meaning of this expression is by no means clearly ascertained; the most general and perhaps best founded opinion is, that they understood the resurrection in a figurative sense of the great change produced by the gospel dispensation, thus he stands as on of the earliest of the Gnostics.”

1). As mentioned above the Apostle Paul had dealings with Hymenaeus that was recorded in his first epistle to Timothy.

a). 1 Timothy 1:19, 20 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

b). In Scripture the phrase to “deliver to Satan” is the last action included in the process of church discipline. The individual or individuals are cast out from the local body and then they are “delivered unto Satan”. This probably is an action of prayer where all Divine protection is removed from the person involved and they become an open target for the enemy to attack them in order to force them to repent. More can be found on my notes on 1 Corinthians 5:5.

2). In 1 Timothy 1:19, 20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are described as having “made shipwreck”, because they put away faith. These individuals such, as who Jude described in Jude 12.

a). Jude 12 [NASB] “These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feats…”

b). Reefs cause shipwreck.

d. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

e. Philetus [Strong: Philetos fil-ay-tos' from 5368; amiable; Philetus, an opposer of Christianity:--Philetus.] [Unger’s Bible Dictionary: an apostate Christian name in connection with Hymenaeus as holding false views regarding the resurrection.]