TRV
See on the biblical-era map
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 2 Timothy 2:14–18. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Having thus encouraged Timothy to suffer, he comes in the next place to direct him in his work.
I.He must make it his business to edify those who were under his charge, to put them in remembrance of those things which they did already know; for this is the work of ministers; not to tell people that which they never knew before, but to put them in mind of that which they do know, charging them that they strive not about words. Observe, Those that are disposed to strive commonly strive about matters of very small moment. Strifes of words are very destructive to the things of God. That they strive not about words to no profit. If people did but consider of what little use most of the controversies in religion are, they would not be so zealous in their strifes of words, to the subverting of the hearers, to the drawing of them away from the great things of God, and occasioning unchristian heats and animosities, by which truth is often in danger of being lost. Observe, People are very prone to strive about words, and such strifes never answer any other ends than to shake some and subvert others; they are not only useless, but they are very hurtful, and therefore ministers are to charge the people that they do not strive about words, and they are most likely to be regarded when they charge them before the Lord, that is, in his name and from his word; when they produce their warrant for what they say. - Study to show thyself approved unto God, Ti2 2:15. Observe, The care of ministers must be to approve themselves unto God, to be accepted of him, and to show that they are so approved unto God. In order thereunto, there must be constant care and industry: Study to show thyself such a one, a workman that needs not be ashamed. Ministers must be workmen; they have work to do, and they must take pains in it. Workmen that are unskilful, or unfaithful, or lazy, have need to be ashamed; but those who mind their business, and keep to their work, are workmen that need not be ashamed. And what is their work? It is rightly to divide the word of truth. Not to invent a new gospel, but rightly to divide the gospel that is committed to their trust. To speak terror to those to whom terror belongs, comfort to whom comfort; to give every one his portion in due season, Mat 24:45. Observe here,
1.The word which ministers preach is the word of truth, for the author of it is the God of truth.
2.It requires great wisdom, study, and care, to divide this word of truth rightly; Timothy must study in order to do this well.
II.He must take heed of that which would be a hindrance to him in his work, Ti2 2:16.
He must take heed of error: Shun profane and vain babblings. The heretics, who boasted of their notions and their arguments, thought their performances such as might recommend them; but the apostle calls them profane and vain babblings: when once men become fond of those they will increase unto more ungodliness. The way of error is down-hill; one absurdity being granted or contended for, a thousand follow: Their word will eat as doth a canker, or gangrene; when errors or heresies come into the church, the infecting of one often proves the infecting of many, or the infecting of the same person with one error often proves the infecting of him with many errors. Upon this occasion the apostle mentions some who had lately advanced erroneous doctrines: Hymeneus and Philetus. He names these corrupt teachers, by which he sets a brand upon them, to their perpetual infamy, and warns all people against hearkening to them. They have erred concerning the truth, or concerning one of the fundamental articles of the Christian religion, which is truth. The resurrection of the dead is one of the great doctrines of Christ. Now see the subtlety of the serpent and the serpent's seed. They did not deny the resurrection (for that had been boldly and avowedly to confront the word of Christ), but they put a corrupt interpretation upon that true doctrine, saying that the resurrection was past already, that what Christ spoke concerning the resurrection was to be understood mystically and by way of allegory, that it must be meant of a spiritual resurrection only. It is true, there is a spiritual resurrection, but to infer thence that there will not be a true and real resurrection of the body at the last day is to dash one truth of Christ in pieces against another. By this they overthrew the faith of some, took them off from the belief of the resurrection of the dead; and if there be no resurrection of the dead, nor future state, no recompence of our services and sufferings in another world, we are of men the most miserable, Co1 15:19. Whatever takes away the doctrine of a future state overthrows the faith of Christians. The apostle had largely disproved this error (1 Cor. 15), and therefore does not here enter into the arguments against it. Observe,
1.The babblings Timothy was to shun were profane and vain; they were empty shadows, and led to profaneness: For they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2.Error is very productive, and on that account the more dangerous: it will eat like a gangrene.
3.When men err concerning the truth, they always endeavour to have some plausible pretence for it. Hymeneus and Philetus did not deny a resurrection, but pretended it was already past.
4.Error, especially that which affects the foundation, will overthrow the faith of some.
Historical interpretation
Eight Centuries of Reception
12 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
For they can neither confer sight on the blind, nor hearing on the deaf, nor chase away all sorts of demons—none, indeed, except those that are sent into others by themselves, if they can even do so much as this. Nor can they cure the weak, or the lame, or the paralytic, or those who are distressed in any other part of the body, as has often been done in regard to bodily infirmity. Nor can they furnish effective remedies for those external accidents which may occur. And so far are they from being able to raise the dead, as the Lord raised them, and the apostles did by means of prayer, and as has been frequently done in the brotherhood on account of some necessity—the entire Church in that particular locality entreating the boon with much fasting and prayer, the spirit of the dead man has returned, and he has been bestowed in answer to the prayers of the saints—that they do not even believe this can possibly be done, and hold that the resurrection from the dead is simply an acquaintance with that truth which they proclaim.
It is a comparatively small thing, that certain men, like Phygellus, and Hermogenes, and Philetus, and Hymenµus, deserted His apostle: the betrayer of Christ was himself one of the apostles.
Unhappy Aristotle! who invented for these men dialectics, the art of building up and pulling down; an art so evasive in its propositions, so far-fetched in its conjectures, so harsh, in its arguments, so productive of contentions-embarrassing even to itself, retracting everything, and really treating of nothing! Whence spring those "fables and endless genealogies," and "unprofitable questions," and "words which spread like a cancer? " From all these, when the apostle would restrain us, he expressly names philosophy as that which he would have us be on our guard against.
But if we consider what the apostles thought about heretics, we shall find that they, in all their epistles, execrated and detested the sacrilegious wickedness of heretics. For when they say that "their word creeps as a canker".
Flee from such men as much as you can; avoid with a wholesome caution those who adhere to their mischievous contact. Their word doth eat as doth a cancer;.
Also in the second to Timothy: "Their word doth creep as a canker."
From such men come those who, without divine appointment, set themselves over their rash associates, make themselves prelates without any lawful ordination and call themselves bishops though no one gives them a bishopric. The Holy Spirit portrays them in the Psalms “sitting in the seat of pestilence,” plagues and blights to faith, snake-mouthed traitors, scheming to pervert truth, spewing deadly poisons from their pestiferous tongues. Their words “spread like a canker.” Their teaching pours fatal venom into men’s hearts and breasts.
And indeed, although we grieve at the destruction of these men, especially that after having once learned the doctrine of the Church, they have now gone back; yet we do not wonder at it; for this very thing Hymenaeus and Philetus suffered,
And what they now write proceeds not from any regard for the truth, as I said before, but rather they do it as in mockery and by a subterfuge, for the purpose of deceiving others. They hope that by sending about their letters they may engage the ears of the people to listen to these notions and so put off the time when they will be brought to trial. By concealing their impiety from observation, they try to make room to extend their heresy, which, “like a gangrene,” eats its way everywhere.
“Let the wickedness of sinners be brought to nought.” He who says this prayer is obviously a disciple of the evangelical precepts. He prays for those who treat him maliciously, asking that the wickedness of the sinners be circumscribed by a definite limit and boundary. Just as if someone, when praying for those who are suffering in body, would say, “Let the disease of those who are suffering come to an end.” In order that the sin slowly creeping farther may not spread like cancer, since he loves his enemy and wishes to do good to those who hate him, and for this reason prays for those who treat him maliciously, he begs of God that the further outpouring of sin may cease and have definite bounds.
"And shun profane novelties of speech." For they will not stop there. For when anything new has been introduced, it is ever producing innovations, and the error of him who has once left the safe harbor is infinite, and never stops. "For they will increase unto more ungodliness," he says, "And their word will eat as doth a canker." It is an evil not to be restrained, not curable by any medicine, it destroys the whole frame. He shows that novelty of doctrine is a disease, and worse than a disease. And here he implies that they are incorrigible, and that they erred not weakly but willfully.
That kind of wound is called a suppurating sore, which begins in the female breasts and then grows quickly into the abdominal region. When it finally becomes a poison that permeates the heart, there is no remedy. In just such a way the discussions of heretics are to be avoided, lest through the ears they reach the mind with an irremediable wound.
To deceive the first human beings, the devil claimed the serpent as his tool. So to seduce the hearts of orthodox, he armed the tongues of these with the poison of his falsehood. With pastoral care, however, we oppose these snares, dearly beloved, to the extent that the Lord helps us. To prevent any of the holy flock from perishing, we advise you with fatherly admonitions to turn away from “wicked lips and treacherous tongue,” from which the prophet asks that his soul “be kept free,” since “their talk crawls like a crab,” as the blessed apostle said. They creep in low to the ground, take hold softly, squeeze gently and kill undetected.
Avoid profane and empty chatter; for they will increase in ungodliness, and their message will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened; and they overturn the faith of some.
Avoid profane and empty chatter. If anything new in the preaching has been introduced from more recent empty chatter, it is altogether wicked and profane. As for that, either remove it or stand firmly to stop and prevent it altogether.
for they will increase in ungodliness. For if anything spurious is introduced, Paul says, it always leads to absurdity. And he receives a greater offering every day.
like gangrene. Gangrene is a infected ulcer, consuming the place, causing rotting; some say it is a creeping ulcer, or erysipelas.
He who is Hymenaeus..." Of those ones who utter profane and empty chatter.
— [THEODORET] saying that the resurrection. They called the succession of procreation of children to be cursed resurrection: and they enticed some to depart from apostolic teaching. [end of the excerpt from Theodoret PG 82.685A] —
saying that the resurrection has already happened. Rightly said above, for ungodliness will increase even more. For see how many evil things arise from saying that the resurrection has already happened. We would be deprived of the presence of Christ, what could be more grievous? There is no remedy, nor punishment. Christ, who promised these things, lies. And many similar things, such as, "If there is no resurrection, then Christ has not been raised," (1 Cor. 15:14) nor does a judge sit over the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42)
and they overturn the faith of some. Of those who are simpler and weaker.
Continue studying 2 Timothy 2:17 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
CNTR CollationThe earliest Greek manuscripts of this verse, collated letter by letter.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
In 2 Timothy 2:17, the Apostle Paul issues a grave warning to Timothy regarding the insidious nature of false teaching, likening its destructive spread to a rapidly consuming disease, specifically a "canker" or gangrene. He directly names Hymenaeus and Philetus as primary examples of individuals whose erroneous doctrines were actively undermining the faith of believers, underscoring the urgent need for discernment and the preservation of sound doctrine within the early Christian community.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is deeply embedded within Paul's second letter to Timothy, a deeply personal and pastoral epistle written during Paul's final imprisonment. Immediately preceding 2 Timothy 2:17, Paul has exhorted Timothy to "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15), contrasting this diligent handling of Scripture with the "profane and vain babblings" that "will increase unto more ungodliness" (2 Timothy 2:16). The naming of Hymenaeus and Philetus in 2 Timothy 2:17 serves as a concrete illustration of the type of destructive teaching Paul is warning against, which, as the subsequent verse clarifies, "will overthrow the faith of some" (2 Timothy 2:18). The broader context of 2 Timothy 2 emphasizes the qualities of a faithful minister, the importance of enduring hardship, and the absolute necessity of holding fast to sound doctrine in the face of widespread apostasy and false teaching.
Historical & Cultural Context
The early church, still in its nascent stages, faced significant internal and external pressures. Externally, persecution from Roman authorities and Jewish opposition was common. Internally, however, the threat of false teaching posed an equally grave danger, capable of corrupting the purity of the gospel and fracturing the unity of the nascent Christian communities. Paul's letters, particularly the Pastoral Epistles, frequently address these internal threats. While the specific nature of Hymenaeus and Philetus's doctrine is not fully detailed in 2 Timothy 2:17, 2 Timothy 2:18 reveals they taught that "the resurrection is past already." This likely reflects an early form of Gnosticism or a similar heresy, which spiritualized the resurrection, denying a future bodily resurrection. Such a teaching would undermine the hope of believers, the bodily resurrection of Christ, and the very foundation of Christian eschatology. Paul's direct naming of these individuals was a bold and necessary act of church discipline and public warning, characteristic of his concern for the spiritual health of the congregations.
Key Themes
2 Timothy 2:17 contributes significantly to several key themes within 2 Timothy:
The Corrosive Nature of False Doctrine
The central metaphor of "canker" (gangrene) vividly illustrates that false teaching is not benign but actively destructive, spreading like a spiritual disease that consumes faith and spiritual vitality. This underscores the urgency of confronting it.
Identification and Accountability of False Teachers
Paul's willingness to name Hymenaeus and Philetus highlights the need for transparency and direct confrontation when dealing with those who propagate destructive heresies. It emphasizes that false teachers are not abstract threats but real individuals who must be identified for the protection of the flock. This aligns with Paul's previous action of delivering Hymenaeus and Alexander "unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme" (1 Timothy 1:20).
Protection of Spiritual Health and Sound Doctrine
The verse serves as a stark reminder of the vital importance of guarding one's own faith and the faith of others from the damaging effects of heresy. It reinforces the call for believers to be rooted in the truth of God's Word, enabling them to recognize and resist the "canker" of false teachings that seek to undermine genuine faith and spiritual growth. This is a recurring theme throughout Paul's Pastoral Epistles, as seen in his instructions to Titus to "hold fast the faithful word" (Titus 1:9).
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
From légō (to speak); something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive. In this context, it refers to the specific teachings, doctrines, or pronouncements of Hymenaeus and Philetus, emphasizing that it is their message itself that is destructive.
Feminine from the same as nómos (law); pasture, i.e., (the act) feeding (figuratively, spreading of a gangrene), or (the food) pasturage. Here, it is used metaphorically to describe the active, consuming, and spreading nature of the false teaching, much like a disease "feeds" on healthy tissue. The KJV translates this verb as "will eat," capturing the progressive and destructive action.
From gnáthō (to gnaw); an ulcer ("gangrene"). This is the medical term for gangrene, a condition where body tissue dies due to a lack of blood supply or a severe bacterial infection. It is highly aggressive and spreads rapidly, often requiring drastic measures like amputation to prevent further destruction. Paul employs this vivid and alarming medical analogy to convey the virulent, spreading, and ultimately fatal spiritual impact of false doctrine.
Verse Breakdown
"And their word will eat as doth a canker"
This powerful opening clause immediately establishes the destructive nature of the false teaching. The "word" refers to the specific doctrines propagated by the false teachers, which are not merely incorrect but actively corrosive. The verb "eat" (from nomḗ) implies a consuming, spreading action, while "canker" (gángraina) provides the vivid medical analogy of gangrene. This metaphor underscores that heresy is not static; it is a dynamic, infectious spiritual disease that spreads through the body of believers, destroying faith and spiritual vitality, much like physical gangrene consumes healthy tissue.
"of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;"
Paul moves from the general principle of destructive false teaching to specific examples, directly naming Hymenaeus and Philetus. This direct identification serves multiple purposes: it provides concrete examples for Timothy and the church to be wary of, it acts as a public denouncement of their erroneous doctrines, and it underscores the personal responsibility of those who propagate such harmful teachings. By naming them, Paul makes it clear that the threat is real, identifiable, and requires decisive action to protect the flock.
Literary Devices
Paul's choice of language in 2 Timothy 2:17 employs several potent literary devices to convey the gravity of his warning. The most prominent is the metaphor of "canker" (gangrene). This medical imagery is incredibly vivid and impactful, comparing the insidious spread of false teaching to a rapidly decaying and consuming physical disease. Just as gangrene requires amputation to save the body, Paul implies that radical measures may be necessary to protect the spiritual health of the church from such destructive doctrines. This metaphor also involves a degree of personification, as the "word" is described as actively "eating," giving an almost predatory quality to the false teaching. Finally, Paul utilizes specific naming, directly identifying Hymenaeus and Philetus. This is a rhetorical strategy to make the threat concrete and personal, providing clear examples for Timothy and the church to recognize and avoid, rather than leaving the warning as an abstract concept. This directness serves to underscore the urgency and reality of the danger posed by these individuals and their teachings.
Theological and Thematic Connections
The warning in 2 Timothy 2:17 resonates deeply with broader biblical themes concerning the nature of truth and error, the importance of sound doctrine, and the spiritual warfare inherent in the Christian life. The "canker" of false teaching represents a spiritual contagion that, left unchecked, can corrupt the entire body of Christ. It highlights the profound theological truth that doctrine is not merely intellectual assent but has vital, life-altering consequences for faith and salvation. Just as a physical disease attacks the body's health, spiritual error attacks the soul's health, leading to spiritual decay and ultimately, the "overthrow" of faith. This underscores the church's perpetual responsibility to guard the deposit of truth, discern spirits, and confront heresy for the preservation of genuine faith and the glory of God.
Reflection and Application
2 Timothy 2:17 serves as a timeless and urgent call for believers in every generation to cultivate spiritual discernment and to prioritize the safeguarding of sound doctrine. In an age saturated with information and diverse voices, the "word" of false teachers can spread with unprecedented speed, often cloaked in appealing rhetoric or seemingly benign intentions. This verse reminds us that not all teaching that claims to be Christian is truly edifying or aligned with God's truth. Just as a physical canker requires swift and decisive intervention, so too does spiritual error. We are called not only to recognize and reject such teachings but also to be rooted so deeply in God's Word that our own faith becomes a bulwark against spiritual decay. This requires diligent study, prayer, and a commitment to Christian community where truth is upheld and accountability is practiced. Our spiritual health, and the health of the church, depends on our vigilance against the corrosive effects of unbiblical doctrines.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who were Hymenaeus and Philetus, and what was their specific false teaching?
Hymenaeus and Philetus were individuals active in the early church whom Paul identifies as propagating destructive false doctrines. While 2 Timothy 2:17 simply names them as examples of those whose "word will eat as doth a canker," the very next verse, 2 Timothy 2:18, specifies their particular error: they taught "that the resurrection is past already." This was likely an early form of Gnosticism or a related heresy that spiritualized the resurrection, denying a future, bodily resurrection. Such a teaching would undermine the foundational Christian hope, the historical reality of Christ's resurrection, and the future hope of believers, thereby "overthrowing the faith of some." Hymenaeus is also mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:19-20, where Paul states he delivered him and Alexander "unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme," indicating a serious and persistent pattern of doctrinal error and rebellion.
What does the metaphor of "canker" signify in this verse?
The King James Version's "canker" comes from the Greek word gángraina (G1044), from which we derive the medical term "gangrene." This metaphor is incredibly vivid and impactful. Gangrene is a severe medical condition where body tissue dies due to a lack of blood supply or a bacterial infection, and it spreads rapidly, consuming healthy tissue and potentially leading to death if not contained, often requiring amputation. Paul uses this powerful analogy to convey that false teaching is not merely incorrect or harmless; it is a virulent, spreading spiritual disease that actively consumes and destroys faith, spiritual vitality, and the very fabric of the church. Just as gangrene leads to physical death, unchecked false doctrine leads to spiritual decay and the "overthrow" of faith.
How can believers apply the warning of 2 Timothy 2:17 to modern challenges and false teachings?
The warning in 2 Timothy 2:17 remains profoundly relevant today. In an era of widespread information and diverse spiritual claims, believers must exercise extreme discernment. Application involves several key areas:
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
2 Timothy 2:17 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus as the embodiment of Truth and the antidote to all spiritual decay. False teaching, likened to a spreading "canker," is fundamentally a distortion or denial of Christ Himself, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). The "word" that Paul warns against is any teaching that deviates from the true "Word" who became flesh (John 1:14) and dwelt among us. Christ's resurrection, which Hymenaeus and Philetus denied, is the very cornerstone of the gospel and the hope of believers (1 Corinthians 15:13-14). Therefore, to be rooted in Christ is to be protected from the spiritual gangrene of false doctrine. He is the Great Physician who heals all spiritual ailments, and His truth is the living water that nourishes and preserves life, guarding His people from being "tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14). The call to guard against false teaching is, at its core, a call to remain steadfast in Christ, the one true Head of the Church, whose finished work on the cross and victorious resurrection overcome all error and death.