2 Timothy 2:18

18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

2 Timothy 2:18 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
English Standard Version (ESV)
18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
New Living Translation (NLT)
18 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.
The Message Bible (MSG)
18 throwing believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile by saying the resurrection is over and done with.
American Standard Version (ASV)
18 men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
18 They have abandoned the truth. They are destroying the faith of others by saying that people who have died have already come back to life.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
18 They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are overturning the faith of some.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
18 They have wandered away from the truth. They say that the time when people will rise from the dead has already come. They destroy the faith of some people.

2 Timothy 2:18 Meaning and Commentary

2 Timothy 2:18

Who concerning the truth have erred
That is, the two persons just mentioned; they fell from the truth, wandered and departed from it; they did not keep to the Scriptures of truth, but deviated from them; they missed that mark, and went astray into gross errors and mistakes; rejected the Gospel, the word of truth, in general, and particularly in

saying, that the resurrection is past already;
and no other is to be expected; or that there was no future resurrection of the dead: their error was, as some think, that there is no other resurrection than that of parents in their children, who, though they die, live in their posterity; or than the resurrection of Christ, and of the saints, that rose at the same time; or rather, that there is no other resurrection than the spiritual one, or regeneration, which is a quickening of dead sinners, or the resurrection of them from the death of sin, to a life of grace; which seems to be the truest account of their principle, seeing this is what has been received and propagated by others since; though some have thought that they gave into the Palingenesia of the Pythagoreans, who supposed that when men die, their souls go into other bodies; and that these men imagined, that this is all the resurrection that will be: and others have been of opinion, that their notion was, that whereas the deliverance of the Jews out of the Babylonish captivity is signified by a resurrection of them, in ( Ezekiel 37:1-28 ) that this is the resurrection they meant was past, and no other to be looked for; but that which has been fixed upon seems to be the truest account:

and overthrow the faith of some;
the Ethiopic version reads, "of many"; that is, of nominal professors of religion; not of true believers, for true faith cannot be overthrown. Hence it follows,

2 Timothy 2:18 In-Context

16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 2 Thessalonians 2:2
  • 2. 1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 6:21
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