1 Tim 1:18This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, 19keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
What does it mean to be shipwrecked in regard to their faith? Many people will say that Hymenaeus and Alexander were never initially saved, their faith must have been spurious, or a mere profession, but not real. In that case, why didn't Paul say they were shipwrecked in regard to their lack of faith? A shipwreck is when the ship has been moving well and then disaster strikes, it was a real ship, not a fake ship.
Others will say that Hymenaeus (try to spell that as a kid) and Alexander had real faith, but then they suffered shipwreck and then lost their faith, thus losing their salvation, which is why they were delivered over to Satan. If this is true, then Paul is saying that it's possible that Timothy, his son (spiritually), could be guilty of not keeping his faith and a good conscience and suffer shipwreck in his faith. If he did this, then he would cease to be Paul's son (spiritually) and risk being handed over to Satan. If this is true, then the prophecies previously made about Timothy would become false, so this wouldn't really be a real threat to Timothy, so why would Paul use them as examples?
Isn't it natural to see that Hymenaeus and Alexander had real faith, and the warning to Timothy was real too? What does this mean for salvation? It appears that each one of us needs to keep faith and a good conscience or we too can suffer shipwreck. Does this mean we will lose our salvation or that we were never really saved? No, our salvation is grounded in God who has chosen us, but we can suffer shipwreck, this doesn't mean we will lose our salvation, but it does mean there will be consequences, physical punishment, judgment, chastening.
Paul's warning to Timothy was real, and so was the faith of Hymenaeus and Alexander.
What does it mean to be shipwrecked in regard to their faith? Many people will say that Hymenaeus and Alexander were never initially saved, their faith must have been spurious, or a mere profession, but not real. In that case, why didn't Paul say they were shipwrecked in regard to their lack of faith? A shipwreck is when the ship has been moving well and then disaster strikes, it was a real ship, not a fake ship.
Others will say that Hymenaeus (try to spell that as a kid) and Alexander had real faith, but then they suffered shipwreck and then lost their faith, thus losing their salvation, which is why they were delivered over to Satan. If this is true, then Paul is saying that it's possible that Timothy, his son (spiritually), could be guilty of not keeping his faith and a good conscience and suffer shipwreck in his faith. If he did this, then he would cease to be Paul's son (spiritually) and risk being handed over to Satan. If this is true, then the prophecies previously made about Timothy would become false, so this wouldn't really be a real threat to Timothy, so why would Paul use them as examples?
Isn't it natural to see that Hymenaeus and Alexander had real faith, and the warning to Timothy was real too? What does this mean for salvation? It appears that each one of us needs to keep faith and a good conscience or we too can suffer shipwreck. Does this mean we will lose our salvation or that we were never really saved? No, our salvation is grounded in God who has chosen us, but we can suffer shipwreck, this doesn't mean we will lose our salvation, but it does mean there will be consequences, physical punishment, judgment, chastening.
Paul's warning to Timothy was real, and so was the faith of Hymenaeus and Alexander.