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Selected Verse: 2 Timothy 2:17 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
2Ti 2:17	King James	And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
will eat--literally, "will have pasture." The consuming progress of mortification is the image. They pretend to give rich spiritual pasture to their disciples: the only pasture is that of a spiritual cancer feeding on their vitals. canker--a "cancer" or "gangrene." Hymenaeus--(See on Ti1 1:20). After his excommunication he seems to have been readmitted into the Church and again to have troubled it.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

will eat--literally, "will have pasture." The consuming progress of mortification is the image. They pretend to give rich spiritual pasture to their disciples: the only pasture is that of a spiritual cancer feeding on their vitals.

canker--a "cancer" or "gangrene."

Hymenaeus--(See on Ti1 1:20). After his excommunication he seems to have been readmitted into the Church and again to have troubled it.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
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 Ti1 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.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

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 Ti1 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.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Will eat (νομὴν ἕξει) Lit. will have pasturage, and so grow. Νομὴ πυρός a spreading of fire: a sore is said νομὴν ποιεῖσθαι to spread. Comp. Act 4:17, διανεμηθῇ spread, of the influence of the miracle of Peter, from the same root, νέμειν to distribute or divide; often of herdsmen, to pasture. Νομὴ only here and Joh 10:9 Canker (γάγγραινα) Transliterated into gangrene. An eating sore; a cancer. N.T.o. olxx. Comp. Ovid: "Solet immedicabile cancer Serpere, et illaesas vitiatis addere partes." Metam. ii. 826

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Will eat (νομὴν ἕξει)

Lit. will have pasturage, and so grow. Νομὴ πυρός a spreading of fire: a sore is said νομὴν ποιεῖσθαι to spread. Comp. Act 4:17, διανεμηθῇ spread, of the influence of the miracle of Peter, from the same root, νέμειν to distribute or divide; often of herdsmen, to pasture. Νομὴ only here and Joh 10:9

Canker (γάγγραινα)

Transliterated into gangrene. An eating sore; a cancer. N.T.o. olxx. Comp. Ovid:

"Solet immedicabile cancer

Serpere, et illaesas vitiatis addere partes."

Metam. ii. 826

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And their word - If they go on, will be mischievous as well as vain, and will eat as a gangrene.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

And their word - If they go on, will be mischievous as well as vain, and will eat as a gangrene.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
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.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

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.

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