Philetus
False Teaching in the Church
Philetus was a person in the early church who, together with Hymeneus, spread false doctrine. They claimed that the resurrection had already taken place, and through this error they undermined the faith of some in the church.
Key events
Spreading False Doctrine
Philetus and Hymeneus spread false teaching by claiming that the resurrection had already occurred, which undermined the Christian hope of a future resurrection.
17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
καὶ ὁ λόγος αὐτῶν ὡς γάγγραινα νομὴν ἕξει· ὧν ἐστιν Ὑμέναιος καὶ Φίλητος,
18who have missed the truth by saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they are overturning the faith of some.
οἵτινες περὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἠστόχησαν, ⸀λέγοντες ἀνάστασιν ἤδη γεγονέναι, καὶ ἀνατρέπουσιν τήν τινων πίστιν.
Undermining Faith
Paul warned Timothy that the teaching of Philetus and Hymeneus was spreading like gangrene and was overturning the faith of some believers.
16Avoid godless chatter, for those who indulge in it will only wander further into ungodliness,
τὰς δὲ βεβήλους κενοφωνίας περιΐστασο· ἐπὶ πλεῖον γὰρ προκόψουσιν ἀσεβείας,
17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
καὶ ὁ λόγος αὐτῶν ὡς γάγγραινα νομὴν ἕξει· ὧν ἐστιν Ὑμέναιος καὶ Φίλητος,
18who have missed the truth by saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they are overturning the faith of some.
οἵτινες περὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἠστόχησαν, ⸀λέγοντες ἀνάστασιν ἤδη γεγονέναι, καὶ ἀνατρέπουσιν τήν τινων πίστιν.