Paul the apostle knew there
were men in the church at Ephesus who were promoting doctrines other
than the gospel of Jesus Christ. These Judaizers were teaching that
salvation was based not only upon a belief in Jesus but also that the
Mosaic law had to be followed in order to be saved. Paul charged
Timothy his young “son in the faith” with the commission
to “war a good warfare” “having faith and a good conscience”
which was shown through prophecies upon him. Because there were
people among them who were “putting away concerning faith”
and had “shipwrecked” it, Timothy was to confront and
renounce their efforts. In chapter one and verse twenty of his letter
to Timothy, Paul names “Hymenaeus and Alexander” as two of
the perpetrators of these false doctrines, and he told Timothy he
“delivered” them “unto Satan” where we read:
Of whom is Hymenaeus
and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan,
that they may learn
not to blaspheme.
The
verse begins, “Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander;”, Paul
begins this verse with the inditement “Of whom” or “who”
“is Hymenaeus” whose name means “belonging to marriage”
“and Alexander” whose name means “man defender”. Can
we even imagine how this was received by Timothy as he learned
specifically who the heretical teachers were?
The
verse goes on to say, “whom I have delivered unto Satan,
that they may learn not to blaspheme.” As
though naming these false teachers wasn't enough, Paul declared,
“whom I delivered”
or “given to the hands, power and use of; committed, commended and
allowed” “unto Satan”
who is “the prince of evil spirits and the inveterate
adversary of God and Christ”. Paul goes on to add the reason he
committed them to Satan, “that they may learn” which means
“be trained, instructed, taught and chastised” “not to
blaspheme” which means “to speak reproachfully, rail at,
revile and calumniate”. The idea of teaching doctrine that is other
than the gospel of Jesus Christ was so blasphemous, that Paul gave
the main perpetrators of it over to the devil himself.
Of all
the people who are named and written about in the Bible, “Hymenaeus
and Alexander” were two people who would rather not have been
named. Their actions against the gospel of Jesus Christ had Paul
“commit” them “unto Satan” which was the most horrible
position within which to be. When we think about how serious
“blasphemy” against the gospel of Jesus is, we certainly do not
want to align ourselves with false doctrine and heresy lest we be
“trained” not to blaspheme as well. This is why it is
imperatively important that we study the Bible for ourselves and be
taught by the Holy Spirit of God concerning the truth of His word.
While we ponder the magnitude and horrendous action which Paul put
upon “Hymenaeus and Alexander” may the Lord help us to
always hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Him.
Next
time we begin the second chapter of First Timothy and see Paul's
exhortation to “supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks”,
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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