Illustration created for this project.
Hymenaeus
A man named twice in the pastoral letters as an example of shipwrecked faith. Paul says he and Alexander rejected conscience and were handed over to Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme; and that he and Philetus swerved from the truth by teaching that the resurrection had already happened, upsetting the faith of some.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
Name & titles
ScholarlyHymenaeus is a thoroughly Greek personal name derived from Hymenaios (Hymen), the Greek god and personification of marriage and the wedding song; commentators often note the irony that a man bearing a 'wedding' name is remembered in the letters for spreading teaching that wrecked others' faith.
Greek onomastics: name from the deity/hymn Hymenaios; standard lexical observation (e.g. BDAG entry, classical Hymen).
Where in scripture
1 Timothy2 Timothyof whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.
1 Timothy 1:20 — Handed over to be disciplined
and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2 Timothy 2:17 — His teaching spreads like gangrene
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Places in their life
Photo: Turkish Central Bank — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)