2 Timothy 2:17 (WEB)

Passage

and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

Nearby Context

2 Timothy 2:15 Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

2 Timothy 2:16 But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness,

2 Timothy 2:17 and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

2 Timothy 2:18 men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some.

2 Timothy 2:19 However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,”Numbers 16:5 and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "But shun empty chatter for it will..." into verse 18's "men who have erred concerning the truth...", so "words" and "consume" 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 "words" and "consume" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.