2 Timothy 2:26
What does 2 Timothy 2:26 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Timothy 2:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Timothy 2:26 means
The aim is that such people may come to their senses and escape the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to do his will. Error is not merely intellectual; it is spiritual bondage. Opponents are not merely stubborn but trapped. Deliverance involves awakening—sobriety replacing deception—and liberation from the evil one’s control. God uses gentle, truthful instruction as a means to this rescue. This framing cultivates compassion in the teacher and urgency in the task. Timothy is to see the real battle behind the arguments and to labor as an instrument of God’s freeing power, trusting the Lord to release prisoners and align their wills with his.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And so they may get themselves free from the net of the Evil One, being made the prisoners of the Lord's servant, for the purpose of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they may awake out of the devil's snare, having been caught by him at his will.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they may recover themselves from the snares of the devil by whom they are held captive at his will.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and that they may awake up out of the snare of the devil, [who are] taken by him, for his will.
Context
This closing verse completes the sequence on pastoral engagement (vv.23–26), revealing the spiritual captivity that underlies opposition and the hopeful goal of repentance and freedom. It rounds off the chapter’s themes: endurance in grace (vv.1–3), disciplined service (vv.3–6), gospel centrality (vv.8–10), sober warnings and divine faithfulness (vv.11–13), careful handling of truth (vv.14–15), rejection of corrosive error (vv.16–18), confidence in God’s foundation (v.19), personal holiness (vv.20–22), and gentle, redemptive ministry to the erring (vv.23–26).
v.25in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,
v.26This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 49:25
But thus saith Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
- Acts 5:3
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
- John 13:27
And after the sop, then entered Satan into him. Jesus therefore saith unto him, What thou doest, do quickly.
- 2 Peter 2:18
For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
- Isaiah 28:13
Therefore shall the word of Jehovah be unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
- 1 Corinthians 15:34
Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak this to move you to shame.
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