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1 Timothy 1:20
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20 Of whom [hos] is [esti] Hymenaeus [Humenaios] and [kai] Alexander; [Alexandros] whom [hos] I have delivered [paradidomi] unto Satan, [Satanas] that [hina] they may learn [paideuo] not [me] to blaspheme. [blasphemeo] KJV-Interlinear
20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme. NASB
And finally Paul mentions two men, by name. Two men that were spreading false information, and as a result, causing trouble among the Christians.
Nothing is known about Hymenaeus or Alexander. Hymenaeus is mentioned one more time in 2 Tim 2:17, along with another false teacher, Philetus. And a man named Alexander is mentioned as an opponent of the Christian faith in 2 Tim 4:14-15, which may or may not be the same man.
However, the purpose of this mentioning of these two men has nothing to do with their names, but with the repercussions they will be made to experience as a result of their actions of promoting false ideas.
By implication, Paul has tried to straighten them out in their thinking, but after so many tries, and we are not told how many, Paul simply gave up on them and in effect has given them up to learn from life’s experiences.
Satan is the ruler of the world.
In this world, you learn from academic teaching, and you learn from experience. Sometimes we call it being book smart or educated, or street smart. And this is an expression which Paul uses. These two men refused to listen and learn from Pauls instruction, so, Paul is going to let them learn from life.
Whenever you have the choice to learn, learning from an organized instructional approach is usually far better than learning from life’s experiences. That does not mean that experience is a bad way to learn, because experience is a great way to learn when it is complimented by an academic learning approach, or when it is a positive approach.
However, when your mind is closed to good advice, and when you think you know it all, then you leave yourself open for learning the hard way. And that is generally not the preferred way to learn anything, because learning the hard way means trouble, pain, suffering, anxiety, loss, and so forth.
Paul tried his best, but these men would not listen, so Paul simply gave up on them. There is only so much that you can do, and then you have to let God deal with them in His own way, in His own time.
Learn, ‘paideuo,’ means to learn from life’s experiences. And that is what Paul is going to let them do. They will learn the hard way, and now God will be the instructor.
When you suffer in life, that does not mean that you have been bad and deserved your suffering. Life is full of hardships. It is the devils world. But there is enough suffering to go around in a normal day to day life, without looking for it.
Blasphemy is any form of slander against God. It is not limited to verbal language. Any sin, any attitude, any disobedience, etc., certainly qualifies as blasphemy. Even neglect in your mandated daily bible study, is a form of blasphemy, in that you are not pursuing truth, but coasting along in the views of the world.
And feeling that what you are doing is right, is not good enough, if you are not obedient to Gods mandate to listen, to learn, and to grow up. And thus life enters into your space and that can mean trouble.
Certainly being indifferent is bad enough, but when you promote false ideas, attitudes, and opinions, then that is even worse in that you are attempting to lead others down the path of your incorrect beliefs, thus misleading them.
And every now and then, God will step into the picture and drop the hammer on your life, in order to get you to wake up.
For some people it works, but for most, it does not work. And when masses of society drift away from truth, then the magnitude of suffering grows exponentially. And in that case you will see regional or national or international trouble of some type, as well as individual difficulties in ones life.
Everyone has the opportunity to make their life better or worse.
You can assume responsibility and control over your own life, by becoming proactive in your life, and going after, seeking out, pursuing that which you need to learn, or you can sit back and wait for someone else to bring things to you. But that is what an infant does.
The infant can’t do anything for itself. It has to cry to get attention, it has to wait for someone else to care for it. All it can do, or even wants to do, is be happy and let the world drift by. And as such, the infant has nothing to show for its existence.
So, you can remain a spiritual infant and have nothing to show for your life, even learning the hard way, or you can take charge of your destiny, and place yourself under Gods control, and accomplish a life beyond your imagination.
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