philetus Summary and Overview

amiable, with Hymenaeus, at Ephesus, said that the "resurrection was past already" (2 Tim. 2:17, 18). This was a Gnostic heresy held by the Nicolaitanes. (See ALEXANDER T0000168 [4].)

(beloved) was possibly a disciple of Hymenaeus, with whom he is associated in #2Ti 2:17| and who is named without him in an earlier epistle. #1Ti 1:20| (A.D. 68-64) Thep appear to have been persons who believed the Scripture of the Old Testament, but misinterpreted them, allegorizing away the doctrine of the resurrection and resolving it all into figure and metaphor. The delivering over unto Satan. seems to have been a form of excommunication declaring the person reduced to the state of a heathen; and in the apostolic age it was accompanied with supernatural or miraculous effects upon the bodies of the persons so delivered.

PHILE'TUS (amiable), one whom Paul associates with Hymeneus as an errorist. 2 Tim 2:17. "They appear to have been persons who believed the Scriptures of the O.T., but misinterpreted them, allegorizing away the doctrine of the resurrection, resolving it all into figure and metaphor. The delivering over unto Satan seems to have been a form of excommunication declaring the person reduced to the state of a heathen, and in the apostolic age it was accompanied with supernatural or miraculous effects upon the bodies of the persons so delivered." - Waterland: Importance of Doctrine of Holy Trinity.

Coupled with Hymenaeus as "erring" (missing the aim: estocheesan), and holding that "the resurrection is past already" (2 Timothy 2:17), as if it were merely the spiritual raising of souls from the death of sin: perverting Romans 6:4; Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12; compare 1 Corinthians 15:12, etc. (See HYMENAEUS.) So the Seleucians or Hermians taught (Augustine, Ep. 119:55 ad Januar. 4); the germs of Gnosticism, which fully developed itself in the second century.