From Idiotic Things People Did in the Bible
But avoid godless and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their word will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. 2 Timothy 2:16–18 (LSB)
What He Did
They tried to shake the faith of some.
Why It Was Idiotic
Jesus said it would be better to have a millstone put around our neck and be thrown into the depths of the sea than to cause a child of God to stumble (see Matthew 18:6).
Here’s the Scoop
Hymenaeus and Philetus were two early false teachers. Paul compared their influence to a spreading cancer, warning that their doctrinal error was severely damaging the faith of some believers. Specifically, they claimed our resurrection had already taken place—likely teaching the heretical idea that it was merely a spiritual event rather than a future bodily resurrection. This teaching directly contradicted the gospel and undermined the hope of believers in the return of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead. Because of their dangerous distortions, Paul condemned their message as profane and urged Timothy to stand firm against such deception.
“How, then, can we fortify our faith, firstly, that Jesus did rise from the dead, and, secondly, that He will raise all who have died? The importance of the resurrection of Jesus is seen in the sobering words of the apostle Paul: And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. (1 Corinthians 15:14–15)”
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This is one of those portions of Scripture that leaves us scratching our heads. These two professed believers said the resurrection had already happened. This isn’t a reference to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, but to the time Jesus spoke of when all who are in their graves shall hear His voice:
Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:25–29)
Paul’s frustration was that those who go off the rails on this major doctrine sow seeds of doubt in tender minds. How, then, can we fortify our faith, firstly, that Jesus did rise from the dead, and, secondly, that He will raise all who have died?
The importance of the resurrection of Jesus is seen in the sobering words of the apostle Paul:
And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. (1 Corinthians 15:14–15)
