Q. In II Timothy 2:17, 18 the scripture says that Hymenaeus and Philetus
erred saying that the resurrection is past already and overthrew the faith
of some. My question is: In what sense did they believe that the
resurrection is past? Was it their misapplication of Romans 6:1-4;
Colossians 3:13 or was it the false teaching that there was no resurrection
of the dead in 1st Corinthians 15:12? Thanks so much for your answer.
2 Tim. 2:16-18
16* But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further
ungodliness, 17* and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are
Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18* men who have gone astray from the truth saying
that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of
some.
I believe that Hymenaeus and Philetus were teaching the Gnostic
doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which in essence was a doctrine similar the
to teachings of the Sadducees, which stated that there was no such thing as
the resurrection of the body.
Mt 22:23
"On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to
Jesus and questioned Him, Lu 20:27
"Now there came to Him some of the Sadducees (who say that there is no
resurrection)," Ac 23:8
"For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a
spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all."
The Nicolaitanes (who were apparently very persuasive during the early
days of the church) taught that we "spiritually" pass from death to life,
but because the physical body is "evil" it will not be raised from the dead.
On this verse (2 Tim. 2:17-18) Clark (who rarely, in my opinion, has
anything worth consideration) has a good comment:
They had the truth, but erred or wandered from it, saying the
resurrection was already past, and thus denying the resurrection of the
body, and, by consequence, future rewards and punishments; and this
necessarily sapped the foundation of all religion: and thus the gangrene
had, in reference to their unhappy votaries, a rapid and unchecked
operation.
Robertson's Word Pictures on 1 Cor. 15:12:
Is preached (khrussetai). Personal use of the verb, Christ is
preached. How say some among you? (pwv legousin en umin tines?). The
question springs naturally from the proof of the fact of the resurrection
of Christ (verses #1-11) and the continual preaching which Paul here
assumes by condition of the first class (ei--khrussetai). There were
skeptics in Corinth, possibly in the church, who denied the resurrection of
dead people just as some men today deny that miracles happen or ever did
happen. Paul's answer is the resurrection of Christ as a fact. It all turns
on this fact.
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