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

We have here an explanation why men who used to hold the faith delivered unto the saints have given up that faith. Error does not begin with the head but with the heart. Some sin was cherished; some secret sin had control. Self judgment was not exercised; no confession made. Having no good conscience, there was no longer real communion with God and the shipwreck of faith followed in due time. Hymenaeus and Alexander, who denied resurrection, were examples of this fatal road. He delivered them over to Satan, not to be lost, but for discipline. They were to find out by sad and sorrowful experience what Satan's power is, so that broken and humbled they might be brought back. "Better surely not to need such discipline; but if we do need it, how precious to know that God turns it into account in His grace, that we might be thoroughly dealt with and exercised in the conscience" (Wm. Kelly).

Faith is imperative to be maintained, as that which objectively connects the soul directly with God. It is personal and vital. This is true of conscience also, which, having to do with the subjective state of the individual, is necessarily, properly speaking, of a sensitive character, necessarily to be held in delicate adjustment. Faith must ever have the Word of God as its food, for it is a vital belief of the revelation of God. Conscience is secondary, but must be governed by the Word, or may lead us badly astray. For conscience involves a sense of responsibility as to what is right or wrong, and the only reliable judge of this is Scripture. But some had let conscience slip, and with it faith. This is, no doubt, the secret of many tragic falls, that conscience is not good, and being ignored, leaves the soul exposed to ruin. Confidence in God suffers along with it, of course, and shipwreck is the result.

Two men are here mentioned of whom this was true, and whom Paul had delivered unto Satan, that they may learn "not to blaspheme." There was apostolic authority in this.

No mention is even made of any assembly action in excom­municating these men. But their doctrinal evil had progressed far enough that discipline was required. Today no man individually can take the authority for putting another away: we are not apostles. In fact, an assembly cannot even claim the authority to "deliver to Satan"; but it is responsible to put away one who is guilty of a course of evil, whether doctrinal or moral. Hymenaeus means "a wedding song," and would perhaps indicate the subtle evil that would merrily wed Christianity with corruption. In 2 Timothy 2:17 we see that, though excommunicated, he still advanced in evil, his doctrine being wicked, and another man, Philetus, being also linked with him. Alexander means, "man defender," and would seem to imply opposition to the truth Paul taught as to the thorough judgment of man in the flesh. He too had not been restored by discipline later on, for Paul speaks of his doing him "much evil" (2 Tim. 4:14). How solemn to think of these men's names being recorded in Scripture in so dreadful a way! Proper discipline had not yet arrested their blasphemous rebellion, though this was the object in view. Sad indeed that an object so honorable may yet fail of its purpose!

One who had made shipwreck of faith. Paul, in his apostolic authority, had delivered him and Alexander unto Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme. He is also mentioned with Philetus, as having erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection had passed already (probably allegorising it), and had overthrown the faith of some. 1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:17.

Unfaithful servants like Hymenaeus and Philetus have made shipwreck of the faith and have abandoned fundamental Christian truth. The Holy Spirit says: 'Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.' We are also invited to 'go forth therefore unto Christ without the camp, bearing his reproach' (2 Tim. 2:17-19; Heb. 13:13).

To Timothy the Apostle proceeded to cite a glaring case which had arisen in these early days. Hymenaeus and Philetus had divided the word of truth so crookedly that they were found propagating the notion that, "the resurrection is past already." In so teaching they tampered with the very foundations of the faith of the gospel and they overthrew the individual faith of any who came under their power. They could not of course overthrow the faith of Christianity for that was a divine foundation, and whatever God founds always stands firm as a rock. Nor could they overthrow anything which God had founded in the hearts of His people. That always remains come what may, and "the Lord knows them that are His" even if they became misled under false teaching and hence indistinguishable to others.

In the apostles' days, holders of unsound doctrine were dealt with in the most decided way. On one occasion, Paul found that two teachers were "saying" what was contrary to the truth. To some it might appear to be a small matter their "saying that the resurrection was past already," but it was not so in an apostle's judgment; for he knew that "their word will eat as doth a canker." So foul and corrupting was this evil doctrine that we read, "Who concerning the truth have erred, saying" (observe saying — he dealt with what they said) "that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." (2 Tim. 2:15-18.) In the former epistle to Timothy, the apostle tells us that Hymenaeus and Alexander had put away a good conscience, and concerning faith had made shipwreck, whom, added the apostle, "I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." Thus we find that Paul judged them to be blasphemers. (1 Tim. 1:19-20.)

There again we find the same mingling of the faith and good conscience as we had earlier. Some having put away, not the faith, but a good conscience, made shipwreck of the faith. Thus, no matter what you may hold or appear to delight in, abandoning jealousy over your ways, giving up self-judgment in the great or small matters which each day brings before us, is fatal. It may be a very little sin that is allowed, but this, where it is unjudged in God's sight, becomes the beginning of a very great evil. Having put away a good conscience, their ship no longer answers the helm, and as to faith they make shipwreck: "of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may be instructed not to blaspheme." Satan's power is regarded and really is in the outside world. The apostle had delivered these men to him. The power to torment and harass the soul with fears does not belong to the house of God, where, as we shall find, His presence is known, and this is incompatible with fear, with doubt, with question of acceptance and of blessing in His sight. The apostle had given up to the enemy these men, who had abandoned all that was holy, not only in practice, but also afterwards, as a consequence, in faith. They were consigned to Satan, not necessarily to be lost — surely not; but that they might be so troubled, by proving what the power of Satan is by the flesh, and in the world, that they might be thus brought back broken in all their bones, and glad to find a refuge again in the house of God. Better surely not to need such discipline; but, if we do need it, how precious to know that God turns it to account in His grace, that they might be thoroughly dealt with and exercised in the conscience!

Some, indeed, in the Apostle's day, had put away a good conscience and so fallen into errors that made shipwreck of the faith. Two men are named, Hymenæus and Alexander, who had listened to Satan and made blasphemous statements. By apostolic power they had been delivered to Satan. Inside the house of God there was the protection of the Holy Spirit. Outside the assembly there is the world under the power of Satan. These men were allowed to come under the power of Satan, that, through suffering and anguish of soul, they might learn the true character of the flesh and turn to God in humbleness and brokenness of spirit.

He then commits a very solemn charge to Timothy. The charge is "holding faith, and a good conscience." Some put it away, that is the good conscience, and then concerning faith make shipwreck The faith is sound doctrine, the gospel of grace, the truth of Christianity. A good conscience must be maintained in order to hold that faith in sincerity and truth. Daily self-judgment, even as to the smallest things, is absolutely necessary to keep the believer from the dangerous rocks on which his faith may be wrecked. It may be a very little sin that is allowed and not confessed and put away; but this unjudged sin becomes the starting point of something worse and may lead to terrible results. If a good conscience is put away the believer begins to drift.

What Paul calls “the testimony” in 2 Timothy, he designates as “the faith” in his first letter to the same devoted young servant. Note his solemn words, and remember they are as truly applicable to you, if a child of God, as they were to Timothy when first written: “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a [or, the] good warfare; holding faith [literally, the faith; i.e., the truth believed], and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning [the] faith have made shipwreck” (1 Timothy 1:18,19). Now, carefully observe, you can only hold the faith of God’s elect in a godly way, as you maintain a good conscience. If you ever put away a good conscience— if you allow yourself to go on with anything of which your conscience does not approve when instructed by the Word of God—you will lose the faith and make shipwreck of the testimony.