What does 1 Timothy 1:20 mean?

Two examples of those who had "shipwrecked" their faith are the focus of this verse: Hymenaeus and Alexander. According to the prior verse, these men did not merely wander from the faith. They made a purposeful choice to reject a clear conscience, and the result was a destruction of their spiritual lives. Based on other comments in the New Testament, it is doubtful either of these men were legitimate believers.

Hymenaeus is also mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:16–18: "But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some." Apparently, at that point, Hymenaeus will be claiming that the resurrection of the dead had already taken place, distressing believers through his false teaching and ungodly living.

Alexander was a common name from the period, and there are multiple people with that name in the New Testament. A Jew named Alexander is mentioned in Ephesus in Acts 19:33–34. It is unclear whether this is the same man Paul mentioned. Second Timothy 4:14–15, however, seems to indicate the same person referred to here: "Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message."

Both Hymenaeus and Alexander are presented as actively opposing believers and Christian teachings. Paul had "handed them over to Satan," meaning he had stayed away from them so God could deal with them. The point of Paul's action is not to punish, but to inspire repentance and reconciliation (as in 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15).