2 Timothy 2:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul says such false talk spreads like gangrene, and names Hymenaeus and Philetus as examples.
What Does 2 Timothy 2:17 Mean?
Paul gives a vivid and alarming image: false teaching spreads like gangrene, eating away at healthy flesh. He names two men, Hymenaeus and Philetus, as carriers of such corrupting words.
Gangrene is no small danger; left unchecked it destroys. Paul names the threat honestly because the health of the church is at stake. False words are not a private matter when they spread and consume the faith of others. Naming Hymenaeus and Philetus shows that error must sometimes be identified plainly to protect the flock. For the reader, this sober image underscores how seriously truth must be guarded. What seems like mere talk can become a spreading sickness. Love for the church requires both clear teaching and the courage to confront error before it eats away at living faith.
2 Timothy 2:17 in the Original Language
gangraina (γάγγραινα), 'canker' -- gangrene, a spreading decay that consumes living tissue if left unchecked.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Timothy 2:17
What does 2 Timothy 2:17 mean?
Paul says such false talk spreads like gangrene, and names Hymenaeus and Philetus as examples.