2 Timothy 2:18
King James 2 Timothy 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
This verse is important because it refers to the resurrection of Christ, and how Jesus followers identify with or imitate His resurrection.
Most versions of the Bible say that the doctrinal error referred to in 2 Tim 2:18 suggests that the resurrection of the believer is past or has happened already.
It is important to see how the resurrection is described in the Bible, before touching on the error that this verse refers to.
In Romans 6:4-6 we see that the person identifying with the resurrection of Jesus has died to sin. The believer’s identification with Jesus resurrection happens when they walk in newness of life, being free from sin.
Ro 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Ro 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Ro 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Paul condemns the errors of Hymenaeus and Alexander in 2 Tim 2:18. Then in verse 19 He encourages the believers to refrain from sin.
Paul progressed from condemning the behavior of Hymenaeus and Alexander in verse 18 to recommending the correct behavior in verse 19.
Romans 6:6 describes the resurrection as not serving sin while in the body, or walking in newness of life.
It can be concluded that the error of Hymenaeus and Alexander was that they did not encourage believers to stop sinning as Paul did in 2 Tim 2:19.
Far from being “over or past already” the resurrection as described in Rom 6:6 maintains the necessity of departing from iniquity or sin. Not sinning is the imitation of the resurrection of Christ. This is the believer’s proper response as they cooperate with the instruction of God’s grace (Titus 2:11-12) and abstain from ungodliness or sin.
It is thought that the error of Hymenaeus and Alexander was a part of the Gnostic belief system, which taught that a person did not have free will, and therefore could not stop sinning.
In this belief system, they taught that the person’s Spirit was pure. However, while a person’s spirit was in a flesh body they were incapable of departing from iniquity. They thought that while in the body a person was destined to continue in sin. This was the specific doctrinal error referred to.
Therefore, the resurrection which emphasized departing from iniquity (refer to 2 Tim 2:19) was not possible.
The resurrection or the constant abstention from sin mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:18 is also mentioned by Paul in Philippians 3:10-13. The Resurrection is here referred to as “conforming to Jesus Death” to sin, in order to attain to the resurrection.
Paul states in Romans 6:10 that the death Jesus died was a death to sin.
Ro 6:10 For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (ASV)
Simultaneous to the death to sin is the attaining to the Resurrection.
New American Standard Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11. in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12. Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
Wanting to attain to the power of Jesus resurrection (verse 10) and being conformed to the death of Christ is a reference to the death to sin.
Paul was not telling His students that he wanted to die physically in Philippians 3:10-13. He is telling them that He wanted to stop sinning (the first resurrection) so that he might attain or arrive at the resurrection from the dead.
Looking at verses 10 and 11 this becomes clear —
(Verse 10) Paul wanted to know the power of Jesus resurrection … (Verse 11) In order that He might attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Notice that in verse 10 Paul wanted to know the power of Christ’s resurrection while He was living. He wanted to walk in newness of life as Romans 6:4 states.
This illustrates that he was referring to the resurrection from the condition of being dead in sin.
This means that Paul wanted to die to sin… In order that he may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Just as an aside, notice here that Paul was “working in order to attain” the righteousness which is through faith (verse 9). This means that faith grows and is something to be attained or worked towards, from faith to faith, Rm 1:17. This effectively refutes the notion that Christians do not have to work for their resurrection from the condition of being dead in sin. Just confessing that we are the righteousness of God in Christ (1 Cor 1:30) is not enough, we must work to cooperate with God’s grace and deny ungodliness, John 6:29.
In the context of these verses it is clear that Paul is speaking of dying to the sinful fleshly motivations (verse 10) while He was still alive. Seeking to attain to the resurrection from being dead in sin is then the equivalent of struggling against sin (suffering in the flesh, 1 Pet 4:1) in order to maintain faith and deny ungodliness, and this is considered work, Phil 2:12. This is standing in the grace of God, Romans 5:2 and Eph 6:13.
Paul’s reference to the “fellowship of Jesus suffering’s” in Phil 3:10 is clarified when seen in the light of 1 Peter 4:1. He that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. 1 Peter 4:1 indicates that the concept here referred to as “suffering” refers to the discomfort experienced when attempting to cease from sin, or deny ungodly activity, Titus 2:11-12.
Receiving the Grace of God necessarily involves the suffering a person experiences as they attempt to refrain from sin. Most of us will not have to resist sin/disobedience to the point of shedding blood, Heb 12:4. As can be seen Jesus did resist to this point, Lk 22:44.
Applying these thoughts to 2 Timothy 2:18 and the words “past already”, it is seen that the first resurrection is not past. Which was the error that Paul attributed to Hymenaeus and Alexander.
The falsehood being taught by some and being discouraged by the Apostle was that the resurrection was ended.
The very opposite is true, in that the resurrection continues and can be defined as a progression that occurs during the individual’s lifetime. The individual throughout their lifetime is encouraged to become as free from sin as they can.
The first resurrection (from the death caused by sin) continues throughout a person’s life as Paul refers to when he says that He continues to press on or reach forward, Philippians 3:13. Paul here states that He continues to seek to be resurrected from sin and to become dead to it, as Jesus Himself was dead to sin.
– New American Standard Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.
The wording laid hold of “it”, as used in Philippians 3:12, refers to laying hold of the complete resurrection from the state of being dead in sin. This is referred to by Paul as becoming perfect or mature.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (KJV)
In studying the resurrection, it is necessary to remember that Jesus was crucified on earth and resurrected on earth and then He ascended into heaven.
If we are to walk as He walked (1 Jn 2:6) we must understand that we will also experience a resurrection on earth as Romans 6 indicates.
Along these lines, keep in mind that Paul told us that to be absent from the body in to be present with the Lord, 2 Cor 5:8.
Paul also told us in 1 Cor 15:44 that the natural body (pre-resurrection person practicing sin) must put on a spiritual body. They must put on Christ Rm 13:14, or as Col 3:1 says become risen with Christ. The Christian doing this is still in the body. This suggests that the spiritual body mentioned in scripture is the inspirited man in the physical body which they have always possessed in their life on earth.
Jesus mentions the resurrection that occurs after physical death in Luke 20:34-35.