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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Athanasius of Alexandria
And what they now write proceeds not from any regard for the truth, as I said before, but rather they do it as in mockery and by an artifice, for the purpose of deceiving men; that by sending about their letters they may engage the ears of the people to listen to these notions, and so put off the time when they will be brought to trial; and that by concealing their impiety from observation, they may have room to extend their heresy, which, `like a gangrene,' eats its way everywhere.
Theophylact of Ohrid
He said well above: "they will advance still more in ungodliness." It would seem that the only evil consists in what they say about the resurrection. However, great consequences follow from this. For if the resurrection has already occurred, then judgment and recompense are also abolished, and the good have enjoyed sorrows and afflictions, while the evil have been punished by wallowing in pleasures. What need, then, is there to hold to virtue, if such are the recompenses? …
Oecumenius
And their message will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them, who have strayed concerning the truth. like gangrene. Gangrene is a infected ulcer, consuming the place, causing rotting; some say it is a creeping ulcer, or erysipelas. He who is Hymenaeus..." Of those ones who utter profane and empty chatter.
Western Saints
Leo the Great
And as for the deception of primitive man he used the services of a serpent, so to mislead the minds of the upright he has armed these men's tongues with the poison of his falsehoods. But these treacherous designs, dearly beloved, with a shepherd's care, and so far as the Lord vouchsafes His aid, we will defeat. …
Thomas Aquinas
Their speech spreads like a canker. For heretics say true and useful things in the beginning; but after a while they vomit forth deadly doctrines. Hence he says, their speech spreads like a canker; from one spark comes a great fire, and from one deceitful man much blood (Sir 11:34). Of whom are Hymeneus and Philetus: he gives an example of this. For these two corrupted the faith in their time and turned others into vain babblers. …
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