And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Recover themselves, [ ananeepsoosin (G366)] - 'awake up to soberness;' namely, from the spiritual intoxication whereby they have fallen into "the snare of the devil" (note, 1 Corinthians 15:34).

The snare (Ephesians 6:11; 1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Timothy 6:9).

Taken captive by him at his will - so as to follow the will of 'THAT' [ ekeinou (G1565)] foe. [But autou (G846) and ekeinou (G1565), distinct pronouns (cf. 2 Timothy 3:9) stand for "him" and "his;" and the Greek "taken captive," ezoogreemenoi (G2221), means not 'captivated for destruction,' but 'for being saved alive,' as in Luke 5:10, 'catch men to life,' zoogroon (G2221): also there is no article before the Greek participle, which the English version, "who are taken captive," would require.] Translate, 'that they may awake,' etc., being talked as saved captives by him (the servant of the Lord, 2 Timothy 2:24), so as to follow the will of HIM' ("God" 2 Timothy 2:25). There are two evils - "the snare" and sleep-from which they are delivered: two goods to which they are translated, awaking and deliverance. Instead of Satan's thrall comes the free and willing captivity of obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). [ Ezoogremenoi (G2221), perfect participle, marks the continuing state: Zoogrethentes (G2221) would have expressed the act.] God goes before, giving repentance (2 Timothy 2:25); then the work of His servant follows with success, leading the convert henceforth to live "to the will of God" (Acts 22:14; 1 Peter 4:2).

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