John Calvin Commentary 2 Timothy 2:17

"and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: or whom is Hymenaeus an Philetus;" — 2 Timothy 2:17 (ASV)

And their word will eat as a gangrene. I have been told by Benedict Textor, a physician, that this passage is incorrectly translated by Erasmus, who, out of two diseases quite different from each other, has made only one disease; for, instead of “gangrene,” he has used the word “cancer.” Now Galen, in many passages throughout his writings, and especially where he provides definitions in his small work “On unnatural swellings,” distinguishes one from the other. Paul Aegineta, too, on the authority of Galen, defines “cancer” as follows in his sixth book: “an unequal swelling, with inflated extremities, repulsive in appearance, of a leaden color, and without pain.” Next, he enumerates two kinds, as other physicians do; for he says that some “cancers” are concealed and have no ulcer, while others, in which there is an excess of the black bile from which they originate, are ulcerous.

Of “gangrene,” on the other hand, Galen (both in the small work already quoted and in his second book to Glauco), Aetius (in his fourteenth book), and the same Aegineta (in his fourth book) speak to the following effect: that it proceeds from great phlegmons or inflammations, if they severely affect any part of the body, so that the part which is lacking heat and vital energy tends toward destruction. If that part is completely dead, the Greek writers call the disease σφάκελος, the Latins call it sideratio, and the common people call it St. Anthony’s fire.

I find, indeed, that Cornelius Celsus draws the distinction in this manner: that “cancer” is the genus, and “gangrene” the species; but his mistake is clearly refuted by numerous passages in the works of physicians of high authority. It is also possible that he was misled by the similarity between the Latin words “cancer” and “gangraena.” But in the Greek words there can be no mistake of that kind; for κάρκινος is the name that corresponds to the Latin word “cancer,” and denotes both the animal we call a crab and the disease; while grammarians think that γάγγραινα is derived ἀπὸ τοῦ γραίνειν, which means “to eat.” We must therefore adhere to the word “gangrene,” which Paul uses, and which best agrees with what he says regarding “eating” or “consuming.”

We have now explained the etymology; but all physicians state that the nature of the disease is such that, if it is not very quickly counteracted, it spreads to the adjacent parts, penetrates even to the bones, and does not cease to consume until it has killed the person.

Since, therefore, “gangrene” is immediately followed by (νέκρωσις) mortification, which rapidly infects the other parts of the body until it ends in the universal destruction of the body, Paul elegantly compares false doctrines to this mortal contagion; for, if you once give them entrance, they spread until they have completed the destruction of the Church.

The contagion being so destructive, we must address it early, and not wait until it has gathered strength through its progress; for there will then be no time for providing assistance. The dreadful extinction of the gospel among the Papists arose from this cause: that, through the ignorance or negligence of the pastors, corruptions prevailed for a long time and without control, as a result of which the purity of doctrine was gradually destroyed.

Of the number of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus. He points directly to the plagues themselves, so that all may be on their guard against them; for, if those persons who aim at the ruin of the whole Church are allowed by us to remain hidden, then we, to some extent, empower them to do harm.

It is true that we should conceal the faults of fellow believers, but only those faults whose contagion does not spread widely. But where there is danger to many, our concealment is cruel if we do not expose the hidden evil at the proper time. And why? Is it right, for the sake of sparing one individual, that a hundred or a thousand people should perish through my silence? Besides, Paul did not intend to convey this information to Timothy alone, but he intended to proclaim to all ages and nations the wickedness of the two men, in order to shut the door on their base and ruinous doctrine.