Paul contrasts the solid, unchanging “unity of the faith” with the stormy winds and waves of “deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:13-14). He frequently warns of Satan’s attacks on “the faith.” In his warnings to Timothy, notice Paul’s use of “the faith.” For example, consider his letter to Timothy when he was serving in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). Notice in that letter how Paul uses the term “the faith.”
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8).
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith (1 Timothy 6:10).
Guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid … what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith (1 Timothy 6:20-21).
Hymenaeus and Philetus … have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some (2 Timothy 2:17-18).
[Like Jannes and Jambres,] these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith (2 Timothy 3:5-8).
Timothy was sent to Ephesus to defend the truth, and to “charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:3). As we discuss unity, we should also discuss its outer boundaries. Paul cited the case of Hymenaeus and Alexander “whom I have handed over to Satan” (1 Timothy 1:20). That means Paul had cut them off from the church’s fellowship (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:5). Why take such drastic action? Because of their blasphemy and their damage to “the faith” of other Christians (1 Timothy 1:19-20). Likewise, Timothy was commanded to avoid men like Hymenaeus and Philetus. Why? Their false teaching about the future resurrection “swerved from the truth” and upset “the faith” of some (2 Timothy 2:17-18). In 2 Timothy 2, as in 2 Timothy 3, “the truth” is used like “the faith.”
“‘The truth’ is used like ‘the faith’.”
In 1 Timothy 4, the apostle gives two examples of those who “will depart from the faith” (1 Timothy 4:1). They will forbid marriage and certain kinds of food. Most believers do not place doctrines about marriage and food at the Gospel’s core. Yet to Paul, such false doctrines are a demonic departure from “the faith.” There is one faith given by one Lord through one Spirit. That faith has its own inspired teachings about marriage and food. Marriage and food rules by others have no place in the faith (Colossians 2:8-23; Titus 1:14).
Likewise, most may consider end-time matters as secondary as compared with the cross. Yet Paul, who wrote about “one faith,” showed that Hymenaeus lost fellowship with Christians. Why? Because, the apostles delivered the inspired teaching about the future resurrection, and no man had the right to shipwreck “the faith” of believers by teaching a different doctrine.