2 Timothy 2:17 - The Lord's Approved Workman

and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene.
The imagery of "gangrene" is a powerful metaphor for the destructive nature of false teachings. In the ancient world, gangrene was a serious and often fatal condition, symbolizing how false doctrine can corrupt and destroy the spiritual health of a community. This phrase emphasizes the urgency and seriousness with which false teachings must be addressed. The Apostle Paul warns Timothy of the insidious nature of these teachings, which can quickly infect and spread within the church if not dealt with decisively. This metaphor is consistent with other biblical warnings about false teachings, such as in Galatians 5:9, where Paul compares false doctrine to leaven that leavens the whole lump.

Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
Hymenaeus and Philetus are specifically named as examples of those spreading false teachings. Hymenaeus is also mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:20, where Paul states that he has handed him over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme, indicating a previous encounter with his heretical views. This suggests a persistent pattern of false teaching that required strong disciplinary action. Philetus, though not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament, is associated with Hymenaeus, indicating that they were likely working together in propagating their erroneous beliefs. The naming of these individuals serves as a warning to the church to be vigilant against specific sources of false doctrine. Historically, this reflects the early church's struggle with maintaining doctrinal purity amidst various heretical movements.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Hymenaeus
A false teacher mentioned in the New Testament, known for spreading erroneous doctrine. He is also referenced in 1 Timothy 1:20, where Paul mentions handing him over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

2. Philetus
Another false teacher associated with Hymenaeus. He is mentioned only in this passage, indicating his involvement in spreading false teachings.

3. Paul
The apostle who authored the letter to Timothy, providing guidance and warning against false teachings.

4. Timothy
A young pastor and protégé of Paul, recipient of the letter, tasked with leading the church in Ephesus and combating false teachings.

5. Ephesus
The location where Timothy was ministering, a city known for its diverse religious practices and challenges to early Christian teachings.

Teaching Points

The Danger of False Teaching
False teachings can spread rapidly and cause significant harm to the faith community, much like gangrene affects the body. It is crucial to identify and address these teachings promptly.

The Importance of Sound Doctrine
Upholding sound doctrine is essential for the health of the church. Believers must be grounded in Scripture to discern truth from falsehood.

Guarding the Faith Community
Leaders and members alike have a responsibility to protect the community from harmful influences. This involves both teaching truth and correcting errors.

Personal Vigilance
Each believer must be vigilant in their personal study of the Word to avoid being led astray by false teachings.

The Role of Church Leadership
Church leaders, like Timothy, are tasked with the critical role of shepherding the flock and ensuring that teachings align with biblical truth.

(17) And their word will eat as doth a canker.--Better rendered, as in the margin of the English translation, as doth a gangrene, the usual rendering of the various English versions. "Cancer," which is adopted also by Luther--krebs--fails to express the terrible and deathly nature of the "word" of these false teachers. The life of the sufferer afflicted with cancer may be prolonged for many years; a few hours, however, is sufficient to put a term to the life of the patient attacked with "gangrene," unless the limb affected be at once cut away. To translate this Greek word here by "cancer" is to water down the original, in which St. Paul expresses his dread of the fatal influence of the words of these teachers on the lives of many of the flock of Christ. Perhaps Jerome's words, "a perverse doctrine, beginning with one, at the commencement scarcely finds two or three listeners; but little by little the cancer creeps through the body" (Jerome. in Epist. ad Gal.), has suggested the rendering of the English Version.

Of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus.--Of these false teachers nothing is known beyond the mention, in the First Epistle to Timothy, of Hymenaeus, who, regardless of the severe action which had been taken against him (1Timothy 1:20), was apparently still continuing in his error. Vitringa thinks they were Jews, and probably Samaritans. Their names are simply given as examples of the teachers of error to whom St. Paul was referring--famous leaders, no doubt, in their cheerless school of doctrine.

Verse 17. - Gangrene for canker, A.V. Their word; as opposed to "the Word of truth" in ver. 15. Will eat (νομὴν ἕξει); i.e. spread, like a gangrene, which gradually enlarges its area, corrupting the flesh that was sound before. So these heretical opinions spread in the body of the Church which is affected by them. Νομή is literally "pasture" (John 10:9), "grazing of flocks," and hence is applied to fire (Polybius), which as it were feeds upon all around it, and, in medical language (Hippocrates), to sores and gangrenes, which grow larger and depasture the flesh. Of whom; of the number of those pointed at in the phrase, "their word." Hymenaeus; probably the same person as is mentioned as a blasphemer in 1 Timothy 1:20. Philetus. Nothing is known of him. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

talk
λόγος (logos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

of [such men]
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

will
ἕξει (hexei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

spread
νομὴν (nomēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3542: (a) pasture, pasturage, (b) met: growth, increase. Feminine from the same as nomos; pasture, i.e. feeding, or pasturage.

like
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

gangrene.
γάγγραινα (gangraina)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1044: Gangrene, mortification. From graino; an ulcer.

Among [them]
ὧν (hōn)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

are
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

Hymenaeus
Ὑμέναιος (Hymenaios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5211: Hymenaeus. From Humen; 'hymeneal'; Hymeneus, an opponent of Christianity.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Philetus,
Φιλητός (Philētos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5372: Philetus, a Christian at Rome. From phileo; amiable; Philetus, an opposer of Christianity.

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2 Timothy 2:17 Catholic BibleNT Letters: 2 Timothy 2:17 And their word will consume like gangrene (2 Tim. 2Ti iiTi ii Tim)