2:26a
Then: The word Then introduces the second reason why Paul said that a servant of the Lord must “gently reprove” (2:25a).
He must gently reprove those who oppose him in the hope that
Reason 1: God may grant them repentance… (2:25b)
and in the hope that
Reason 2: they will come to their senses… (2:26a)
You should try to show how 2:26a is connected to 2:25b. Some English versions use the word “and” (New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version). Other versions make the connection more explicit with the word “Then” (Berean Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), God’s Word). The Good News Translation uses both words: “And then….”
It may be necessary to repeat the verb “will gently reprove” from 2:25a.
they will come to their senses and escape: This clause uses figurative language. It describes the next step a person who has believed wrong doctrine takes as he is restored to true faith.
The Greek text that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they will come to their senses and escape is a single verb in Greek. The verb literally means “to come to one’s senses,” or “to start thinking correctly again (after being deceived).” Scholars do not agree about whether to express this using two verbs or one:
(1) Most English versions use two verbs and believe that the verb “escape” is implicit: People who oppose the true teachings of Christ are like people who have been deceived and can no longer think clearly, and they are like people who are caught in a trap. For example, Good News Translation says,
And then they will come to their senses and escape….
See also Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), God’s Word, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New American Standard Bible.
(2) Other English versions use a single verb. People who oppose the true teachings of Christ are like people who are caught in a trap. For example, the Revised Standard Version says,
and they may escape….
See also Contemporary English Version and King James Version.
It is recommended that you follow option (1) and the majority of versions and use two verbs.
This is the only place in the New Testament where this verb occurs. To “come to one’s senses” is an idiom in English, so avoid translating it literally unless you have the same idiom in your language. If not, use a word or phrase that describes someone who recovers from being unable to think clearly.
escape the snare of the devil: The word escape is not in the Greek text, but it is clearly implied in the phrase. Paul was thinking about the way an animal gets caught in a trap and cannot get free. In a similar way, the devil has tricked the person into rejecting the truth and believing what is false. It is as though that person is an animal in a trap, but the trap is one that the devil has set. However, when a person “repents” (by accepting the truth of God’s word), he becomes free from the devil’s power. He is like an animal that has escaped from a trap and he can think clearly again and be able to recognize what is true and what is false.
If your language does not have a similar figure of speech, you can say something like:
…escape from the power/control of the devil.
devil: The devil is the chief of all evil spirits. The name of the devil is Satan.
2:26b
taken them captive to his will: Satan’s purpose for capturing men and women is to make them do what he wants. Satan influences people to reject God’s true message and believe his false message.
General Comment on 2:25–26
In 2:26 Paul mentions two events, which the Greek lists in the following order: (a) people escape from Satan’s trap, and (b) Satan traps them. The Berean Standard Bible and most other English versions follow the Greek order, but the chronological order is the opposite. For that reason, in some languages it may be necessary to reorder the parts of the verse as follows:
26bThe devil has trapped people to make them obey him. 25aWe(incl) must gently correct these people who are against us 25bso that perhaps God will enable them to change their hearts/thinking 25cand to recognize what is true, 26aand so that they may come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap.
Paragraph 3:1–5
3:1a
But: Paul used the Greek word de again to indicate he was changing to a new theme. Use the appropriate words or forms in your language that indicate a change in the topics being talked about.
understand this: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as understand this is literally “know this.” Other ways to translate this phrase are “mark this,” “remember this,” or “realize this.”
this: The word this refers to what follows.
3:1b
In the last days: In the New Testament, the phrase In the last days can refer to either:
(a) the long period of time between Christ’s first and second coming,
(b) a shorter period of time just before Christ returns.
Here it probably refers to the long time period between the first and second comings of Christ. It is the last days in the sense that it is the final time period of this world. Paul implied that he and Timothy were already living in the last days.
The phrase the last days is used several times in the New Testament. See Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2, 2 Peter 3:3. If you have already translated these passages, refer to them as you translate.
terrible times will come: The phrase terrible times refers to difficult periods of time during the last days. The times will be terrible because people will behave as though there were no God. They will commit very sinful acts. These times will be terrible for Christians and for the church.
In 3:2a–3:5b you will find a long list of examples of what Paul meant by the expression terrible times. Paul was not referring here to disasters such as wars, famines, and earthquakes.
terrible: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as terrible could be translated as “difficult,” “hard to bear,” or “troublesome.”
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.