Hymenaeus
“From Greek Hymenaios, named after Hymen, the god of marriage”
Summary
Hymenaeus was a heretical teacher at Ephesus who departed from the faith, denying the bodily resurrection by claiming it had already occurred, and whom Paul delivered to Satan for discipline.
☩Identification and Error
Hymenaeus is mentioned twice in Paul's letters to Timothy: first with Alexander, and second with Philetus. In both passages his name occurs first, suggesting he was the leader. The specific error taught by Hymenaeus and Philetus was 'that the resurrection is past already.' This spiritualizing of the resurrection sprang from the idea that all material substance is inherently evil, leading to contempt for the body and denial of its literal resurrection. They explained Christ's teaching allegorically as merely the resurrection of the soul from sin.
☩The Nature of His Heresy
Hymenaeus taught that the resurrection spoken of in Scripture was merely spiritual—the soul awakening from sin—which they claimed had already taken place in believers. This error was devastating because if there is no literal resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not raised; and if Christ is not raised, Christian believers are yet in their sins. The Gnostics twisted Paul's words about being 'risen with Christ' and 'quickened together with Him' to deny any future bodily resurrection. This teaching 'ate as a gangrene' and 'overthrew the faith of some.'
☩Delivered to Satan
Paul declares that Hymenaeus and Alexander were 'delivered unto Satan, that they might learn not to blaspheme.' This solemn sentence was not simple excommunication but a delivering over to the realm where Satan holds sway—outside the protection of the church. The purpose was distinctly remedial: 'that they might learn' indicates the intention was the offenders' ultimate restoration, not final perdition. Such discipline may have involved bodily suffering or disease, as with others whom Paul disciplined.
☩Connection to Later Gnosticism
The teaching of Hymenaeus represents an early form of what later developed into full Gnosticism. The Gnostics held that the resurrection had already passed and that there would be no bodily resurrection. Some suppose Hymenaeus misinterpreted Paul's own language about being 'raised with Christ' in Ephesians and Colossians to support his views. Paul's warnings about 'vain and profane babblings' and 'oppositions of science falsely so called' likely target this incipient Gnostic teaching.
Related Verses1 mention
1 Timothy· 1 verse
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Hymenaeus," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Hymenaeus," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Hymenaeus," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Hymenaeus," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).