1. A conflict of evil influence (Hymenaeus and Alexander);

2. A conflict of love for the world (Demas);

3. A conflict of wicked leadership (Diotrephes).

1. Paul advised Timothy about Hymenaeus and Alexander.

a. According to 1Timothy 1:3-7, Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus to teach certain men not to teach strange doctrines, not to pay attention to myths, and not to make false assertions about the Law of Moses.

b. Some of these men had rejected faith and a good conscience and had "suffered shipwreck with regard to their faith,” among whom were "Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom [Paul had] handed over to Satan, so that they [would] be taught not to blaspheme” (1Tim. 1:19-20).

i. We know nothing more specific than that these men were guilty of rejecting faith and a good conscience and of blasphemy, but it is evident that their influence was harmful to the church at Ephesus.

ii. Paul's judgment to hand these men over to Satan is similar to his judgment to deliver the adulterous, incestuous man of Corinth to Satan in 1Corinthians 5:5. The application in Corinth was to remove the man from the church in order to save his soul and cleanse the church, so the application in Ephesus was likely the same.

c. Paul gave an additional warning in 2Timothy 4:14-15: "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.”

i. This warning was written several years later, and again it appears that Timothy was at Ephesus (1:18). Therefore, it seems likely that this refers to the same Alexander.

ii. The facts that Alexander was a coppersmith and that he had "vigorously opposed” Paul's teaching are similar circumstances to those recorded in Acts 19:23-41, in which Demetrius the silversmith opposed Paul's teaching against the false goddess Artemis in Ephesus. Perhaps Alexander had continued that same, self-serving, profit-seeking opposition.

2. For us, this conflict is a lesson on how to handle sinners and those who oppose the truth.

a. The conflict caused by Hymenaeus and Alexander was to be handled by means of teaching and the removal of fellowship. Such blatant defiance of the gospel demanded a firm response.

b. A similar situation is addressed in Romans 16:17-18, in which case similar warnings were given and the same discipline was advised to protect the church at Rome.

1. Demas was a Christian who allowed worries of the world to take him away from the Lord's work.

a. The early accounts of Demas are good, for Paul mentioned him as a companion (Col. 4:14) and counted him as a "fellow worker” (Philem. 24).

b. However, Paul later wrote to Timothy, "Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia” (2Tim. 4:9-10).

i. This letter to Timothy was written during Paul's second Roman imprisonment. Whereas Paul had been attended by brethren in a house-arrest setting during his first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:30-31), he had been abandoned by all to a true prison during his second imprisonment (2Tim. 1:15; 2:9).

ii. Demas had stood by Paul when the circumstances were easier (during Paul's first Roman house-arrest imprisonment – Col. 4:14), but when the situation was much darker, Demas "loved this present world” and deserted Paul. Others deserted Paul also (2Tim. 1:15), but Demas' abandonment was explicitly assigned an evil motive.

2. This conflict is a lesson in true love and devotion.

a. Demas' "fair-weather” devotion is similar to that seen in the apostles, who all left Jesus in Gethsemane when the armed mob came to arrest the Lord (Mark 14:50).

b. Their mistakes should cause us to reevaluate our own devotion to the Lord and to one another (2Cor. 13:5-8). When difficulties arise, will we stand with those who are for truth, or will we love this present world?

c. Such choices are illustrated in the parable of the sower, for those who abandon the truth, the church, and the Lord when trouble comes are like the seed sown among the thorns that is choked by the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of riches (Matt. 13:22).

1. Diotrephes' first love was himself rather than the Lord.

a. The apostle John had many good things to say about the faithful service of Gaius (3John 1-6) and Demetrius (3John 12), but of Diotrephes, he wrote this:

"I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.” (3John 9-11)

b. Diotrephes is an example of conflict that comes from wicked leadership.

i. With injustice and wicked words, he had rejected the true leadership of the apostle John and the others who carried with them the word of God.

ii. Without proper authority, he had taken it upon himself to remove from the church any brethren who received those who he had rejected. It seems he considered himself as a self-appointed elder or apostle.

iii. He loved to be first among the church rather that taking the attitude of a servant in the image of the Lord (Mark 8:34-37; 10:43-45; John 13:12-17; Phil. 2:5-8).

2. The lesson of this conflict for us is not to follow men (including self), but rather to follow the Lord.

a. Diotrephes is an example that demonstrates why it is so important to carefully choose men who are well qualified to serve in the leadership of the church (1Tim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-9).

b. Men like Diotrephes are powerless when no one follows them.

i. It is only when Christians passively submit to the aggressive, self-serving, wicked tactics of such men that they come to power.

ii. It is the church's responsibility to reject such wicked leadership and be followers and imitators of men of speak the word of God and demonstrate genuine faith by their conduct (1Cor. 11:1; Heb. 6:12; 13:7).

1. We must deal with sinners firmly as prescribed by the Scriptures (Hymenaeus and Alexander);

2. Our devotion and love must overcome the difficulties of the world (Demas);

3. We must recognize and reject wicked leadership in the church (Diotrephes).

1. Let us recall the issues involved in these conflicts.

a. Hymenaeus and Alexander caused a conflict of evil influence in Ephesus (1Tim. 1:19-20; 2Tim. 4:14-15).

b. Demas allowed his love of the world to conflict with his work in the Lord (2Tim. 4:9-10).

c. Diotrephes' arrogance and hostility caused a conflict of wicked leadership within the church (3John 9-11).

2. Certainly, we hope that these conflicts were peacefully resolved, but we simply do not know.

a. Did Hymenaeus and Alexander repent of their blasphemy and restore their faith?

b. Did Demas realize the error of his ways and return to his first love in Jesus Christ?

c. Did Diotrephes repent from his self-serving ways and accept the message of truth?

d. We do not know the answers to these questions, but perhaps we do not need to know. These examples teach us how to handle such conflicts regardless of the outcomes.

1. John Mark had started on a journey with Paul and Barnabas, but he left them after a short time.

a. John Mark was the son of a woman named Mary, who had a home in Jerusalem in which Christians gathered (Acts 12:12). He was also the cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10) and the author of the gospel of Mark (by tradition).

b. Paul and Barnabas took John Mark with them when they left Jerusalem and went to Antioch (Acts 12:25), and then they took him with them as a helper on their first preaching journey (Acts 13:5).

c. After journeying across the island of Cyprus and then to Pamphylia, John Mark left the party and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13; 15:38).

2. When Paul and Barnabas were preparing to go on a second preaching journey, they separated from each other due to a conflict over John Mark.

a. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along, but "Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work” (Acts 15:38; see vv. 36-41 for full context).

b. Their disagreement was so sharp that Paul and Barnabas separated. Paul took Silas and went to Syria and Cilicia, while Barnabas took John Mark and went back to Cyprus (which was the place of Barnabas' birth – Acts 4:36).

3. Through Paul's letters, we see that he was later reconciled to both Barnabas and John Mark.

a. Paul mentioned Barnabas in a favorable way in 1Corinthians 9:6 (written during his third preaching journey).

b. Paul wrote that John Mark was with him during his first Roman imprisonment about twelve years later (Col. 4:10; Philem. 24). During Paul's second Roman imprisonment, he requested that Timothy bring John Mark, saying, "…he is useful to me for service” (2Tim. 4:11).

1. Personal disagreements must not be allowed to hinder the work of the Lord.

a. Both Paul and Barnabas carried on God's work unhindered despite their disagreement.

b. Too often the church is stifled because of conflicting personalities. This ought never to be. If necessary, let us go separate ways, but let the work of the Lord continue.

2. Conflicts can be resolved, and relationships can be restored.

a. If both sides will follow the Lord's guidance in all things, then any conflict can be settled.

b. A personal disagreement does not have to be the end of a relationship. Fellowship in the Lord is too precious to throw away over such things.

c. Consider the direction given to two women in Philippi: "I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord” (Phil. 4:2). Indeed, let us all live in harmony in the Lord so that the Lord's kingdom may grow and the Lord may be glorified.