Paul the
apostle named “Hymenaeus and Philetus” as
men who promoted “profane and vain babblings”
whom he said their “word will eat as does a canker”
as he continued his final instructions to Timothy. Paul knew these
false teachers not only promoted ungodly ideas, but they influenced
others in the church who followed after them. In chapter two and
verse eighteen of this final letter from Paul, we learn that
“Hymenaeus and Philetus” “erred” “concerning the truth”
of the “resurrection” where we read:
Who
concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past
already;
and
overthrow the faith of some.
The
verse begins, “Who concerning the truth have erred,
saying that the resurrection is past already;” Paul
began with, “Who”
which refers to “Hymenaeus and Philetus” “concerning”
or “about, on account of, because of, around and near” “the
truth” which is “what
is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man both
moral and religious” “have erred” or “deviated from
and missed”. Paul revealed where they “erred” “concerning
the truth”, “saying” or “speaking, affirming,
maintaining and teaching” “that the resurrection” which
refers to the “rising up of all men from the dead” “is
past already” or “become,
come into existence, began to be and happened”. In other words,
“Hymenaeus and Philetus” were
promoting the idea that the “resurrection”
from the dead has already occurred, and the people who were in the
church, including themselves, were not part of it.
The
verse goes on to say, “and overthrow the faith of some.”
Paul shared the conclusion of
these “false teachers”, “and overthrow” or
“overturn, destroy and subvert” “the faith”
which refers to “the conviction that God exists and is the
creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal
salvation through Jesus Christ who is the Messiah in the kingdom of
God” “of some”
or “certain people or certain ones”. By promoting their false
teaching, “Hymenaeus and Philetus” subverted
the belief that some had in Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Savior.
While
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see the power of persuasive
words. “Hymenaeus and Philetus” must
have believed in their false doctrine to promote it, however, they
were wrong. The difficult part of this verse is the impact their
“wrong” ideas had upon believers in Jesus Christ. Unfortunately
there are more “Hymenaeus and Philetus” types
in our world today. When we think this through, we understand the
importance of knowing the scriptures from the Bible, and whenever an
idea is presented to us, we must examine it by the truth of God's
word. Perhaps we should learn from what was said of the people of
Berea who in the book of Acts in chapter seventeen and verse eleven
we read:
These were
more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word
with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily,
whether those things were so.
May
we always be ones who “search the scriptures”, and
discover “the truth” rather than simply believe any
person's doctrine and speech.
Next
time Paul shares about “the foundation of God”, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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