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They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.
2 Timothy 2:18 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some.
  • KJV Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
  • BSB who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some.
  • NKJV who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
  • NASB men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing the faith of some.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

These men strayed from the truth by claiming the resurrection had already occurred, overturning some people's faith. A false view of the resurrection has real spiritual casualties.

Overview

Hymenaeus and Philetus taught that the resurrection was already past, likely spiritualizing it and denying the future bodily resurrection. This error 'overthrew the faith of some,' showing the destructive power of doctrinal corruption. The bodily resurrection of believers remains an essential of the Christian hope.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 15

  • 1 Cor 15:12Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
  • 1 Tim 1:19holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith;
  • Heb 3:10Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, ‘They always err in their heart, but they didn’t know my ways;’
  • 1 Tim 6:10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
  • Jas 5:19Brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,
  • 1 Cor 11:19For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.
  • Col 3:1If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
  • 2 Tim 2:14Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don’t argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.
  • Luke 22:31–32The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat,
  • 1 Tim 6:21which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
  • Luke 8:13Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation.
  • Matt 22:29But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
  • 1 Jn 2:19They went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us.
  • Acts 5:39But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”
  • Matt 15:13But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Timothy videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Timothy 2:18YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 TimothyMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Christ Jesus 'abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' — the risen Lord whose word and kingdom endure to the end.

How 2 Timothy 2:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.