By Dan Maines

Hymenaeus and Philetus

Were Hymenaeus and Philetus right? in 2 Timothy 2:17-18 They had to believe the resurrection was spiritual. Paul did not challenge Hymenaeus and Philetus as to the nature of the resurrection, He taught it was spiritual. Paul could have corrected them if they were wrong, but he didn't. Keep in mind the Temple was still standing, If the early Christians had believed that the resurrection would involve the physical bodies coming out of the graves, as is taught today, Hymenaius and Philitus could never have convinced anyone that the resurrection had already happened. They knew that the earth would go on after the resurrection. They didn't believe that they would be on a new earth. No one would have paid attention to Hymenaeus and Philetus if they taught a physical resurrection.

They were wrong at that point but as soon as the Temple fell, they were right. If it were a so called physical resurrection, all they needed to say was "Look out the window".