Turn Them Over

Among these [who have rejected faith and suffered shipwreck] are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:20)

Without a doubt, Paul was a powerful man. There is no evidence he ever abused the power, but as here he did use the power. (See note below.) From 2 Timothy 2:17-18 we learn the Hymenaeus strayed by claiming the resurrection had already taken place. Perhaps (that means I'm speculating) Alexander had followed him since they are linked here. At any rate young Timothy was familiar enough with the reasons these men were "handed over" that there was no need to mention them here.

There came a point where Paul, having tried to convince them of the truth (remember he's instructed Tim to stay and instruct) and failing to do so with no other apparent solution, Paul had to hand them over.

There was nothing else to do. Handing over was simply an acknowledgment that there was nothing else for Paul or the church to do. If the heretic cannot see the truth, he belongs to Satan since he has placed man's sensibility over God's truth.

Over different issues than the resurrection, the same has happened in my short ministry here. Some men simply want to believe more in themselves. Turn them over. Focus on instructing in the truth those who remain faithful.

Pressing on, Ed ><}}}>

Note: it would seem that Paul acted alone, not under the auspices of a church, in excommunicating these two. Perhaps the church where this took place – we're not told where – was too immature/new to have a church discipline policy based on Matthew 18. Paul acted authoritatively, then, to maintain the purity of the faith.