2-timothy 2:17
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And their word will eat as does a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
American King James Version (AKJV)
And their word will eat as does a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
American Standard Version (ASV)
and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: or whom is Hymenaeus an Philetus;
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And their words will be like poisoned wounds in the flesh: such are Hymenaeus and Philetus;
Webster's Revision
And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus;
World English Bible
and their word will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
English Revised Version (ERV)
and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
Definitions for 2-timothy 2:17
Clarke's 2-timothy 2:17 Bible Commentary
Their word will eat as doth a canker - Ὡς γαγγραινα· As a gangrene; i.e. as a mortification in the flesh, where the circulation is entirely stopped, and putrefaction takes place, which continues to corrupt all the circumjacent flesh, spreading more and more till death takes place, unless stopped by a timely and judicious application of medicine. Such is the influence of false doctrine; it fixes its mortal seed in the soul, which continues to corrupt and assimilate every thing to itself, till, if not prevented by a timely application of the word of life, under the direction of the heavenly Physician, it terminates in the bitter pains of an eternal death. To such a gangrene the apostle compares the corrupt doctrines of Hymeneus and Philetus.
Barnes's 2-timothy 2:17 Bible Commentary
And their word - The word, or the discourses of those who love vain and idle disputations.
Will eat as doth a canker - Margin, "gangrene." This word - γάγγραινα gangraina - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is derived from γραιω graiō, γραινω grainō, to devour, corrode," and means "gangrene" or "mortification" - the death of a part, spreading, unless arrested, by degrees over the whole body. The words rendered "will eat," mean "will have nutriment;" that is, will spread over and consume the healthful parts. It will not merely destroy the parts immediately affected, but will extend into the surrounding healthy parts and destroy them also. So it is with erroneous doctrines. They will not merely eat out the truth in the particular matter to which they refer, but they will also spread over and corrupt other truths. The doctrines of religion are closely connected, and are dependent on each other - like the different parts of the human body. One cannot be corrupted without affecting those adjacent to it, and unless checked, the corruption will soon spread over the whole.
Of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus - In regard to Hymenaeus, see the notes at 1 Timothy 1:20. Of Philetus nothing more is known. They have gained an undesirable immortality, destined to be known to the end of time only as the advocates of error.
Wesley's 2-timothy 2:17 Bible Commentary
2:17 And their word - If they go on, will be mischievous as well as vain, and will eat as a gangrene.
