Canker

The older English term "canker" denotes a spreading, eating sore. UPDV renders the underlying term as "gangrene." The figure appears once, applied to false teaching.

False Teaching as Gangrene

Paul warns Timothy about doctrinal corruption that spreads and consumes. UPDV reads, "and their word will eat as does a gangrene: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;" (2Ti 2:17). The image is medical: a flesh-eating wound that travels outward from its source. Hymenaeus and Philetus are named as the carriers whose teaching does this work.