had the effect of making the part which had been cauterized lose all sensitivity so that the pain was dulled. So Paul was saying that those people who taught wrong doctrine knew what the truth really was, but instead of obeying God’s Word they had deliberately and continually refused to listen to the voice of conscience within them. With their consciences sealed off they would be totally insensitive to correct teaching and behaviour. Some commentators also think that the searing of these people’s