Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Timothy 2:18

18 Who concerning the truth have erred , saying that the resurrection is past already , and overthrow the faith of some s.

These two he saith had already erred as to the Doctrine of Faith, giving heed to profane and vain bablings.

Their particular Error was in the business of the Resurrection, which they said was past. That there shall be no Resurrection, is a very pleasing Doctrine to men that have lived sensual lives, those whose lives have been nothing but eating and drinking, do very unwillingly think of dying, but seeing they cannot avoid that, they would gladly there should be no Resurrection. So that it was no wonder if such an Error as this did spread and mortifie like a Gangrene. Upon what pretence these men denied the Resurrection, we are neither told in Holy Writ, nor with any certainty by any other Authors. Some say, that they held that it was past in the Resurrection of Christ, and those mentioned, Matth. 27.52. Others think they confounded the Resurrection with Regeneration, and Glorification, which they allowed only as to the Souls of Believers. Others say they maintained no other Resurrection than what men have in the Procreation of Children. Others, that they denied any Resurrection but that in Baptisme. The Resurrection of the Body was denied by the Sadduces, by these in Pauls time, and afterwards by those that followed, Marcion, Basilides, Valentinus and Apelles, and others. Some in our times also have troden in their steps, and are still treading (unless they think God will be more kind to those infinite numbers of Heathens in the Country of the Great Mogul than to Christians; for as to them, they tell us they cannot believe any such thing). Two sorts of men have been guilty of this; 1. The Philosophers of the World that think they must be able with their Reason to span all Articles of Faith. 2. Men of sensual and sottish lives, who having lived like beasts are willing to believe they shall also die like brutes.

Those who are tainted with this Error do both themselves deny the Faith divers principal Articles of which depend upon it. Such as the Resurrection of Christ, 1 Cor. 15. and Eternal Life, &c. and also subvert the faith of others; for whoso can perswade another that there shall be no Resurrection, makes him an infidel. Such Hereticks therefore were never indured to keep any Station in the Christian Church. It being always judged reasonable, that those who were turned Infidels, should be turned out of the flock of Christ to their proper Herd.

Marginal references: 1 Tim. 6.21.