KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 1:20 KJV” Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme

Apostle Paul explains ultimately why he charged Pastor Timothy not to allow any to teach false doctrines in the church. Such people do not employ a coupling of faith and a good conscience and so make a shipwreck of their faith. To make a ship wreck of their faith can be likened to a ship sinking in high seas. All the occupants of such a ship may sink and die; they have no lifeboats or ability to swim ashore. In a more practical way, they have lost their faith. Such people do not sink alone, but they overthrow the faith of others 2Ti 2:18 KJV “Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”

In this particular incident, Hymenaeus and Alexander went around teaching that the resurrection of the saints had already occurred. The bible teaches that at the appearing of Jesus, all people who died in Christ shall arise, and those of us who are alive and remain shall all meet the Lord in the clouds 1st Thess 1:16,17. This is a form of the resurrection that would occur at the appearing of Jesus. There would be other resurrections, including the resurrection of sinners for their final judgement and a subsequent casting into the lake of fire, which the bible calls the second death. Rev 20:13,14.All these resurrections are yet to take place. ( I would teach on these various resurrections at a later study)What then were the bases for Hymenaeus and Alexander going about to teach that the resurrection had already occurred? This was purely an act of insincerity on their part. It was out of an impure conscience seeking to destroy the faith of the knowledgeless ones.

Apostle Paul says he has given these men over to satan..Let’s make a reference to an occurrence of an incident similar to this one. This incident can be found in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 (please read this passage). It involved a young man who was having an affair with his father’s wife. This would be described as uncovering his father’s nakedness, an act that warranted the death of the culprits under the old covenant( lev 18:8). Now let’s look at apostle Paul’s instruction concerning how such people are to be handled.1Corinth 5:4-5 KJV “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” This verse reveals the authority of the leadership of the church, especially the pastor, holds in the church At such a meeting of the leadership they declare the excommunication of such a brother and by a statement of faith say that such a fellow has been handed over to the devil, to torment his body for a season so his spirit may not perish in hell but would ultimately repent. This instruction is supposed to be carried out in love for the brother and not as a way for anyone to satisfy their ego to see a brother suffer.

In the account of 1st Timothy 1:20, apostle Paul, in his capacity as an apostle, said he had delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan, so they would stop being blasphemous and heretics as well. His hope for such an action was the ultimate conversion of such rebellious heretics. Dear child of God, be warned of the serious consequences of dying without repentance from any wicked way; your part would be in hell, considering the fact that the church had to employ such a way to restrain people from dying in their sins.

THOUGHT: NEVER ENTERTAIN SIN IN ANY FORM

FURTHER STUDIES

2Co 5:11 KJV” Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”

1Pe 4:18 KJV And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?