In biblical terminology, the term "canker" is often associated with decay, corruption, or a destructive influence. The word itself is derived from the Greek word "gangraina," which refers to a spreading sore or gangrene. In the context of Scripture, it is used metaphorically to describe the harmful effects of false teachings or corrupt influences within the community of believers.

Biblical References:

1. 2 Timothy 2:17 : "And their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus." In this passage, the Apostle Paul warns Timothy about the dangerous and corrupting influence of false teachers. The imagery of gangrene, or canker, is used to illustrate how false doctrine can spread rapidly and cause spiritual decay within the church. Paul specifically names Hymenaeus and Philetus as examples of individuals whose teachings are like a canker, threatening the health and purity of the Christian community.

2. James 5:3 : "Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days." While the term "canker" is not explicitly used in this verse, the concept of corrosion is akin to the destructive nature of a canker. James warns the wealthy about the futility of hoarding riches, emphasizing that their corroded wealth will ultimately serve as a witness against them, leading to their spiritual ruin.

Theological Implications:

The metaphor of canker in the Bible serves as a powerful warning against the insidious nature of sin and false teachings. Just as a physical canker can lead to the deterioration of the body, spiritual cankers can lead to the decay of faith and the moral fabric of the church. Believers are urged to remain vigilant, discerning, and steadfast in the truth of the Gospel to prevent such corruption from taking root.

Practical Application:

Christians are called to guard against the influence of false teachings and to uphold sound doctrine. This involves a commitment to studying Scripture, engaging in prayer, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. By doing so, believers can protect themselves and their communities from the spiritual decay that can result from allowing cankerous influences to spread unchecked.

In summary, the concept of canker in the Bible serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive power of sin and falsehood. It calls believers to remain vigilant and to actively preserve the purity and integrity of their faith.A gangrene or mortification which gradually spreads over the whole body (2 Timothy 2:17). In James 5:3 "cankered" means "rusted" (R.V.) or tarnished. 1. (n.) A corroding or sloughing ulcer; esp. a spreading gangrenous ulcer or collection of ulcers in or about the mouth; -- called also water canker, canker of the mouth, and noma.

2. (n.) Anything which corrodes, corrupts, or destroy.

3. (n.) A disease incident to trees, causing the bark to rot and fall off.

4. (n.) An obstinate and often incurable disease of a horse's foot, characterized by separation of the horny portion and the development of fungous growths; -- usually resulting from neglected thrush.

5. (n.) A kind of wild, worthless rose; the dog-rose.

6. (v. t.) To affect as a canker; to eat away; to corrode; to consume.

7. (v. t.) To infect or pollute; to corrupt.

8. (v. i.) To waste away, grow rusty, or be oxidized, as a mineral.

9. (v. i.) To be or become diseased, or as if diseased, with canker; to grow corrupt; to become venomous.

CANKER

kan'-ker.

See GANGRENE.

1044. gaggraina -- a gangrene, an eating sore
... canker. From graino (to gnaw); an ulcer ("gangrene") -- canker. (gangraina) -- 1
Occurrence. 1043, 1044. gaggraina. 1045 . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1044.htm - 6k

2728. katioo -- to rust over
... corrode, rust. From kata and a derivative of ios; to rust down, ie Corrode -- canker.
see GREEK kata. see GREEK ios. (katiotai) -- 1 Occurrence. 2727, 2728. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2728.htm - 6k

December 16. "I Will Restore to You the Years that the Locust Hath ...
... DECEMBER 16. "I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker
worm and the caterpillar and the palmer worm, my great army, which I sent ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /december 16 i will restore.htm

They Indeed who Say that Baptism is not to be Repeated...
... The Apostle Paul also speaks of certain men who had erred concerning the truth,
and were overthrowing the faith of some; whose word was eating as a canker. ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 19 25 they.htm

False Profession.
... There is the grape, and the wild grape; the vine, and the wild vine; the rose, and
the canker-rose; flowers, and wild flowers; the apple, and the wild apple ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xx false profession.htm

A Sermon Made by M. Hugh Latimer, at the Time of the Insurrection ...
... Yea, ye say, it is old heresy new scoured. Nay, I tell you it is old truth, long
rusted with your canker, and now new made bright and scoured. ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon made by m.htm

Sorrow the Pledge of Joy.
... Mourning is a canker-bitten blossom on the rose-tree of love. Is there any
mourning worthy the name that has not love for its root? ...
/.../macdonald/hope of the gospel/sorrow the pledge of joy.htm

section ii.
... 170] within me, that will destroy me; tis I that do infect my self; the man without
a Navel [171] yet lives in me; I feel that original canker corrode and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/religio medici/section ii 2.htm

On Singing and Music.
... "We charge by the Lord that none speak without eternal [Divine] motion; for if you
do, the false prophet speaks, and his words eat as a canker, and darken and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/on singing and music/on singing and music.htm

Our Last ChapterConcluded with the Words, "For Childhood and Youth ...
... cry,". "My age is in the yellow leaf, The bud, the fruit of 'life,' is
gone: The worm, the canker, and the grief, Remain alone!". ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter xii our last chapter.htm

Melancholy.
... Still, because this mental canker preys on the most vital interests of the soul,
and because a predisposition to it is found to prevail even among the youthful ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter xx melancholy.htm

Amos
... women than the men, iv.1. The grossest immorality is associated even with public
worship, ii.7, and religion is being eaten away by the canker of commercialism ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/amos.htm

Canker (4 Occurrences)
... a spreading gangrenous ulcer or collection of ulcers in or about the mouth; --
called also water canker, canker of the mouth, and noma. ...
/c/canker.htm - 9k

Canker-worm (7 Occurrences)
Canker-worm. Cankerworm, Canker-worm. Canneh . Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia CANKER-WORM. kan'-ker-wurm (yeleq, (Joel ...
/c/canker-worm.htm - 9k

Cankerworm (7 Occurrences)
... The word is rendered "caterpillar" in Psalm 105:34; Jeremiah 51:14, 17 (but RV
"canker-worm"). ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CANKER-WORM. ...
/c/cankerworm.htm - 10k

Gangrene (1 Occurrence)
... gan'-gren (gaggraina, pronounced gan-graina; the King James Version canker): The
name was used by the old Greek physicians for an eating ulcer which corrodes ...
/g/gangrene.htm - 8k

Palmer-worm (2 Occurrences)
... Joel 1:4 That which the palmer-worm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which
the locust hath left hath the canker-worm eaten; and that which the canker...
/p/palmer-worm.htm - 7k

Cankered (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Canker. 2. (a.) Affected with
canker; as, a cankered mouth. 3. (a.) Affected mentally ...
/c/cankered.htm - 7k

Locust (25 Occurrences)
... Yeleq (Psalm 105:34 Jeremiah 51:14, 27 Joel 1:4; Joel 2:25 Nahum 3:15, 16) is
everywhere "canker-worm" in the Revised Version (British and American), except in ...
/l/locust.htm - 34k

Insects (17 Occurrences)
... 16. Bald locust, beetle, canker-worm, cricket, and palmerworm probably
all denote various kinds of grasshoppers and locusts. When ...
/i/insects.htm - 14k

Swarm (26 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 51:14 Yahweh of Armies has sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill
you with men, as with the canker worm; and they shall lift up a shout against ...
/s/swarm.htm - 15k

Canker: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus