Hymenaeus

hī-men-ē ́us (Ὑμέναιος, Huménaios, so named from Hymen, the god of marriage, 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 2:17): A heretical teacher in Ephesus, an opponent of the apostle Paul, who in the former reference associates him with Alexander (see ALEXANDER), and in the latter, with Philetus (see PHILETUS).

It is worthy of notice that in both passages where these persons are mentioned, the name of Hymeneus occurs first, showing, perhaps, that he was the leader. In the passage in 1 Tim Hymeneus is included in the “some” who had put away faith and a good conscience and who had made shipwreck concerning faith. The apostle adds that he had delivered Hymeneus and Alexander “unto Satan,” that they might learn not to blaspheme.

In the passage in 2 Tim, Hymeneus and Philetus are included among persons whose profane and vain babblings will increase unto more ungodliness, and whose word “will eat as doth a gangrene.” The apostle declares that Hymeneus and Philetus rection are of the number of such people as those just described, and he adds that those two persons “concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.” Then, for the guidance of Timothy, he goes on to say the seal upon the foundation of God is, “The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.” The inference intended is, that though Hymeneus and Philetus had named the name of Christ, they did not depart from iniquity. There is no doubt in regard to the identity of this Hymeneus with the person of the same name in 1 Tim. Accordingly, the facts mentioned in the two epistles must be placed together, namely, that though he had made a Christian profession by naming the name of Christ, yet he had not departed from iniquity, but by his profane teaching he proceeded unto more ungodliness, and that he had put away faith and a good conscience and had made shipwreck of faith.

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Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia

Keywords: Hymenaeus, Alexander, Hymenaeus Alexander, Delivered unto Satan, Delivered to Satan, Excommunication, Excommunicate

Bible reference(s): 1 Timothy 1:20, 2 Timothy 2:17

Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.

Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.