What did Paul do?

[Guest]

1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 20. 

How did Hymenaeus and Alexander do wrong. Handing them over to Satan is a bit mysterious. 

Blasphemy is a bit unclear to me. What does it consist of and how bad is the punishment? 

Edited July 27, 2019 by Melinda12

[missmuffet]

This may be helpful.

Question: "Who were Hymenaeus and Alexander, and what does it mean that their faith was shipwrecked?"

Answer: Hymenaeus and Alexander were men in the early church in Ephesus who had “suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith” and so were “handed over to Satan” by the apostle Paul (1 Timothy 1:19–20). Hymenaeus and Alexander are thus examples of those who reject the true doctrine and follow the false. Later, Hymenaeus is mentioned with Philetus, another false teacher (2 Timothy 2:17). An opponent of Paul named Alexander the metalworker is mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:15–16, but whether or not this is the same Alexander mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:19 is unknown.

Paul writes to his apprentice, Timothy, for the express purpose of exhorting him to “fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:18–19) while pastoring a church. Paul begins his epistle with a warning against false doctrine and myths (verses 3–4) and a charge to remain true to “sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel” (verses 10–11). Paul then provides the names of Hymaneaus and Alexander as examples of what can happen when someone does not fight the good fight and keep the faith and a clear conscience.

Here is the passage that mentions Hymenaeus and Alexander: “Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme” (1 Timothy 1:18–20).

Paul does not expound on the error of Hymenaeus and Alexander. Timothy obviously knew who they were and knew their situation well. Second Timothy 2:18 gives a little more detail, saying that Hymanaeus and his new partner in sin, Philetus, “have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.” Paul likens their false doctrine to a gangrene that spreads corruption and destroys life (verse 17).

The idea of the “shipwrecked” faith of Hymenaeus and Alexander in 1 Timothy 1:19 is that they had veered off course, away from good teaching, and drifted into the dangerous rocks of false teaching. They had wrecked their faith. Paul clearly links faith with a good conscience (and the righteous behavior that comes with good conscience) in 1 Timothy 1:5and 19. Interestingly, the word translated “rejected” in verse 19 is a nautical term meaning “thrown overboard.” Hymenaeus and Alexander had tossed out the good conscience that comes with proper belief—in other words, they loved sin. The “ship” of their faith, not having the ballast it needed, went out of control and wrecked. So those who accept false teachings and ignore their conscience will suffer spiritual damage, like a ship that hits the rocks and is broken up.

It seems that Hymenaeus and Alexander must have professed faith in Christ at one point, since it is their “faith” that was shipwrecked. But they refused to follow the dictates of their conscience. They walked according to the flesh and not the Spirit (see Romans 8:5–9), claiming the name of Christ while behaving like unbelievers. As commentator Albert Barnes wrote, “People become infidels because they wish to indulge in sin. No man can be a sensualist, and yet love that gospel which enjoins purity of life. If people would keep a good conscience, the way to a steady belief in the gospel would be easy. If people will not, they must expect sooner or later to be landed in infidelity” (Notes on the Bible, commentary on 1 Timothy 1:19). Hymenaeus and Alexander did not lose their salvation; either they were pretenders exposed for what they were or they were straying believers disciplined by a loving God (see Hebrews 12:6).

Paul says that he had delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander “to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme” (1 Timothy 1:19). There is one other time when Paul had delivered a person to Satan: a man who professed to believe in Jesus but simultaneously living an immoral lifestyle was delivered “over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 5:5). Note that the reason Paul metes out such a harsh apostolic judgment is the benefit of all those involved. The church would be purified, and the erring individuals would be brought to repentance. The goal for the man in Corinth was that he would submit to God and be saved from spiritual ruin. The goal for Hymenaeus and Alexander was that they “be taught not to blaspheme” (1 Timothy 1:20).

Paul himself had been a blasphemer at one time (1 Timothy 1:13), but, praise God, he testified that “the grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (verse 14). Paul’s desire for the shipwrecked Hymenaeus and Alexander is that they would also learn not to blaspheme and come to know the grace and mercy of the Lord.

www.gotquestions.org/Hymenaeus-and-Alexander.html

Edited July 27, 2019 by missmuffet

[Michael37]

1 hour ago, Melinda12 said:

Handing them over to Satan is a bit mysterious. 

Hi Melinda12. Basically handing a person over to Satan is excommunication. Paul is saying that they have no place in the body of Christ and the only alternative is the rule and dominion of Satan. It is hoped this action would be sufficient punishment to correct the offender and bring them back into right relationship with Christ and His body of believers.

1Co 5:3-5
(3)  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that has so done this deed,
(4)  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(5)  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.
 

[Guest]

Wow! I did not know so that is clarified. Thankyou. So a person lost their church family and all that went with it. A big blow but a good lesson learned. 

Could they change their ways and ever be allowed back? I know the Catholic church did this to people, often high profile ones who challenged them. 

Edited July 27, 2019 by Melinda12

[johnthebaptist]

8 hours ago, Melinda12 said:

1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 20. 

How did Hymenaeus and Alexander do wrong. Handing them over to Satan is a bit mysterious. 

Blasphemy is a bit unclear to me. What does it consist of and how bad is the punishment? 

I would consider blasphemy a rather serious sin, considering this: 

“And every one who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” Luke 12:10 RSV 

I believe blasphemy is the act of being disrespectful. How many of us are wondering if we have committed this sin against the Holy Spirit? (If so, I would suggest we each apologize to the Lord.) 

Hymenaeus and Alexander blasphemed the Lord.

[Guest]

Absolutely. 

The man who curses God is the most lost if all surely. 

I knew someone like that. He was a man of no morals at all. My dad....

[missmuffet]

9 hours ago, Melinda12 said:

Wow! I did not know so that is clarified. Thankyou. So a person lost their church family and all that went with it. A big blow but a good lesson learned. 

Could they change their ways and ever be allowed back? I know the Catholic church did this to people, often high profile ones who challenged them. 

I am glad that was helpful Melinda. 

[missmuffet]

3 hours ago, Melinda12 said:

Absolutely. 

The man who curses God is the most lost if all surely. 

I knew someone like that. He was a man of no morals at all. My dad....

You need to pray for your dad. 

[Absolem]

On 7/27/2019 at 10:26 AM, johnthebaptist said:

I would consider blasphemy a rather serious sin, considering this: 

“And every one who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” Luke 12:10 RSV 

I believe blasphemy is the act of being disrespectful. How many of us are wondering if we have committed this sin against the Holy Spirit? (If so, I would suggest we each apologize to the Lord.) 

Hymenaeus and Alexander blasphemed the Lord.

I was going to make that point , well done.

Here is the dictionary definition.

noun

1. the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk.

[Billiards Ball]

On 7/27/2019 at 1:57 AM, Melinda12 said:

1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 20. 

How did Hymenaeus and Alexander do wrong. Handing them over to Satan is a bit mysterious. 

Blasphemy is a bit unclear to me. What does it consist of and how bad is the punishment? 

They were asked/told to leave church fellowship--it was inappropriate for their former fellow church members to interact with them, when they were teaching very bad doctrines.

Like other backsliders/false teachers, Satan and the world would eat at them some, until hopefully--and this is why Paul's action was a mercy from God--they hit bottom and repent.