15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Pilatus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:15–18 (ESV)
Who were Hymenaeus and Pilatus? They were teachers of heresy in the Ephesian church. Hymenaeus probably was the leader. In both passages where he is mentioned, his name occurs first. In 1 Tim. 1:19, 20, Paul associates him with Alexander. However, in 2 Tim. 2:16–18 Paul mentions him with Philetus. We do not know why Alexander is no longer mentioned along with Hymenaeus. Concerning Philetus (meaning “beloved”), nothing is known except what is found in today’s featured text.
There are two things we do know about these two individuals. First, both of them swerved from the truth by saying the resurrection already occurred. Second, they were upsetting the faith of some Ephesian believers in Christ.
Who have swerved from the truth. The personal pronoun who (οἵτινες; oitnes) is plural. Paul referred to both men in his condemnation. The phrase have served (ἠστόχησαν; estochesan) is an aorist active indicative plural verb. Both men wholeheartedly, actively and collectively abandoned the truth and lost their way.
“Hymenaeus and Philetus were the kind of (οἵτινες) people who had wandered away (see on 1 Tim. 1:6; 6:21) from the truth, that is, from the true doctrine of salvation in Christ. It is immediately evident that Paul is not discussing a minor difference of opinion among men who basically thought alike. On the contrary, he refers to capital error.”[1]
Saying that the resurrection has already happened. These two false teachers were denying the resurrection. Perhaps, like modern day liberals, they were allegorizing the concept. While the Apostle Paul believed and taught a spiritual resurrection of sinners (Rom. 6:1-4; Ephesians 2:4-6; Phil. 3:10-11; col. 2:12; 3:1), he also clearly taught the resurrection of the body (I Cor. 15: Phil. 3 :21). To deny the resurrection of the body implied an overthrow of the gospel (I Cor. 15:13-17). It is certainly understandable why their teaching was upsetting (ἀνατρέπουσιν; anatrepousin), ruining and subverting some believers.
“Like the false teachers who troubled the Corinthians (1 Cor. 15:12), Hymenaeus and Philetus denied the reality of believers’ bodily resurrection. They probably taught that believers’ spiritual identification with Christ’s death and resurrection (Rom. 6:4, 5, 8) was the only resurrection they would experience, and that had already happened. Such heretical teaching reflects the contemporary Greek philosophical view that matter was evil and spirit was good,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
We cannot recall what we have never learned. We must be committed that the truths of Scripture have been planted in our minds through patient, repeated exposure (Psalm 1:1-3). Let us give ourselves to the regular reading and hearing of God’s Word so that when error presents itself, we are able to recognize what is true or false.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 264.
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