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The substitution of "gangrene" for "cancer" is an improvement, as giving the exact word used in the original, which expresses the meaning more forcibly than "cancer." Cancer is sometimes very slow in its ravages, and may go on for years without causing serious harm. Gangrene poisons the whole frame, and quickly becomes fatal. The apostle foresees that doctrines, which really ate out the very heart of Christianity, were likely to become very popular in Ephesus, and would do incalculable mischief. The nature of these doctrines we gather from what follows.

(A. Plummer, D. D.)

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KJV: And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

WEB: and their word will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;