Hymenaeus and Alexander might have been leaders or elders in the church at Ephesus (see also 2 Timothy 2:17; 4:14; compare Acts 19:33; 20:29–31).
The church was the area of the Holy Spirit's guidance. Paul allowed Hymenaeus and Alexander to be under Satan's influence (instead of the Holy Spirit's) by removing them from the church (see also 2 Timothy 2:25–26; Job 2:6; Matthew 18:17–20; 1 Corinthians 5:2–5; 2 Corinthians 2:5–11).
Hymenaeus and Alexander blasphemed God by attacking the true good news, and thus God himself (see 1 Timothy 1:13; compare 6:1; Titus 2:5; 2 Peter 2:2).