24 “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24–26 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul counseled his young protégé Timothy to not be quarrelsome, but kind, able to teach, patiently enduring evil and correcting opponents of biblical truth with gentleness. What is the potential outcome with such recommended and godly behavior? The answer Paul gave was God may perhaps grant repentance to opponents of the Gospel leading them to a knowledge of the truth.
What are some other results of conversion? Paul by no means provided an exhaustive list in today’s text. However, he did list three consequences conversion accomplishes in the soul of the sinner.
First, the sinner may come to their senses. This phrase in English is one word in Greek (ἀνανήψωσιν; ananepsosin). It is an aorist active subjunctive plural verb. It means to wholeheartedly, actively, collectively and potentially return to a right state of mind or thinking.
“The Apostle Paul hopes, accordingly, “that they may return to soberness” (ἀνανήψωσιν). (This is the only occurrence of this compound verb in the New Testament. Through the work of the ministry may the adversaries be brought back to their senses; may they be aroused from their dull stupor, being delivered “out of the snare of the devil,” that is, out of the snare set by the devil, the snare into which he had lured them, that they might do his will (1 Tim. 3:7).”[1]
Dr. John MacArthur writes, “He uses a verb ananēphō which means to return from drunkenness, sober up, come out of a stupor. It’s used only here in the New Testament. There’re all kinds of lies floating out around there, all through the world, filtered into Christianity by the dialogue that the church always wants to have. These false teachers numb the conscience, confuse the mind, paralyze the will, and catapult even believers into a spiritual stupor like some kind of drunkenness from which they need to be delivered because it is a snare of the Devil. And he’ll hold them captive, as long as he can, and render them useless. And so, we need to deliver them by a confrontive will.”
Second, they may escape from the snare of the devil. The word snare (παγίδος; pagidos) refers to danger or a trap. This snare is sourced in and originates from the devil (διαβόλου; diabolou). He is the diabolical one who is dangerous and wicked. To escape from (ἐκ; ek) means to be free and independent from the Devil.
Third, the sinner is freed to no longer do the Devil’s will. Prior to conversion, the sinner was captured to do his, the Devil’s, will. The phrase after being captured (ἐζωγρημένοι; exogremenoi) is a perfect passive plural participle. It means to be brought under control. The word will (θέλημα; thelema) means to do what is desired or purposed.
“False teaching and all its negative consequences in the church are always the handiwork of Satan, but God in His grace often salvages the situation through the Christlike ministry of His servants.”[2]
1. I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still.
2 But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace.
3. Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
O Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You.
CHORUS
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 276.
[2] A. Duane Litfin, “2 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 755–756.
