Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Hymeneus - probably the Hymeneus of 2 Timothy 2:17-18. Though 'delivered over to Satan' (the lord of all outside the church, Acts 26:18, and the executor of wrath, when judicially allowed by God, on the disobedient, 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:27), he was restored to the Church subsequently, and again troubled it. Paul, as an apostle, though distant at Rome, pronounced the sentence of excommunication to be executed at Ephesus (Matthew 18:17-18). The sentence operated not only spiritually but physically, sickness, or some such visitation, falling on the excommunicated, in order to bring him to repentance. "Alexander" is probably "the coppersmith" who did Paul "much evil" when the latter visited Ephesus. The 'delivering him to Satan' was the consequence of his withstanding the apostle (2 Timothy 4:14-15): as the sentence on Hymeneus was for his "saying that the resurrection is past already;'' his putting away good conscience, producing shipwreck concerning the FAITH (1 Timothy 1:19). If one's religion better not his morals, his moral deficiencies will corrupt his religion. The rain which falls pure from heaven will not continue pure, if received in an unclean vessel (Dr. Whately). He possibly was the Alexander, then a Jew, put forward by the Jews against Paul at the riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:33).
That they may - not 'might:' the effect still continues: the sentence is as yet unremoved.
Learn, х paideuthoosin (G3811)] - 'be disciplined;' namely, by chastisement and suffering. Blaspheme - God and Christ, by doings and teachings unworthy of their profession (Romans 2:23-24; James 2:7). Though the apostles, being infallible, could excommunicate judicially, with bodily inflictions miraculously sent (2 Corinthians 10:8), it does not follow that fallible ministers now have any power, except that of excluding from church-fellowship immoral people who notorious lives.