Note 20 at 1 Tim. 1:20: Paul gives two examples of people who fit into this category of shipwrecked faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander failed to practice truth and rejected their consciences. Paul delivered them unto Satan so they would learn not to blaspheme (see note 21 at this verse). This action, taken on Paul's part was not to destroy them, but hopefully to cause them to return unto the Lord (see note 6 at 1 Cor. 5:5, p. 882).

In 2 Timothy 2:17-18, Paul mentions Hymenaeus again and said that he had told people that the resurrection was already over and was causing some to lose their faith. Apparently, Hymenaeus was not denying that Jesus rose from the dead, but he believed that there was not any subsequent resurrection for us.

Putting Hymenaeus' error together with Paul's statement in verse 19, about a bad conscience (see note 18 at v. 19) making our faith shipwreck (see note 19 at v. 19), we can see that there was more to Hymenaeus' sin than just wrong doctrine. He had wrong actions that also defiled his conscience. Once the conscience is violated, deception moves in and all types of sins are not far behind.

There is an Alexander whom Paul mentions in 2 Timothy 4:14-15 who had greatly withstood Paul's ministry. Paul tells Timothy to beware of him. However, Paul's attitude toward the Alexander mentioned in 2 Timothy, is not for restoration as with a person who has been turned over to Satan, so it is doubtful that this is the same Alexander that Paul is referring to.

Note 21 at 1 Tim. 1:20: "Blasphemy indicates a hostile attitude toward God that is expressed directly or indirectly in contemptuous or slanderous ways" (Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, by Lawrence O. Richards, p.129). Specifically, the blasphemy that Hymenaeus was guilty of was saying that the resurrection was already past (2 Tim. 2:17-18). (For more information about blasphemy, see note 1 at Mt. 12:31, p. 186 and note 25 at Col. 3:8, p. 1208, as well as Acts 13:45, 2 Tim. 3:2, and Rev. 13:1, 5-6).