2 Timothy 2:17 (DBY)

Passage

and their word will spread as a gangrene; of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

Nearby Context

2 Timothy 2:15 Strive diligently to present thyself approved to God, a workman that has not to be ashamed, cutting in a straight line the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:16 But profane, vain babblings shun, for they will advance to greater impiety,

2 Timothy 2:17 and their word will spread as a gangrene; of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

2 Timothy 2:18 [men] who as to the truth have gone astray, saying that the resurrection has taken place already; and overthrow the faith of some.

2 Timothy 2:19 Yet the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, [The] Lord knows those that are his; and, Let every one who names the name of [the] Lord withdraw from iniquity.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "word", "spread", "gangrene", "hymenaeus", and "philetus". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "word" and "spread", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "But profane vain babblings shun for they..." into verse 18's "men who as to the truth have...", so "word" and "spread" belong inside that flow. In 2 Timothy context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "word" and "spread" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.