Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Timothy 2:26

"and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will." — 2 Timothy 2:26 (ASV)

And that they may recover themselves. Marg., awake. The word which is rendered recover in the text and awake in the margin, ananhqwsin, occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It properly means to become sober again, as from inebriation; to awake from a deep sleep; and then, to come to a right mind, as one does who is aroused from a state of inebriety, or from sleep. The representation in this part of the verse implies that while under the influence of error, they were like a man intoxicated, or like one in deep slumber. From this state they were to be roused, as one is from sleep, or as a man is recovered from the stupor and dullness of intoxication.

Out of the snare of the devil. The snare which the devil has spread for them, and in which they have become entangled. There is a little confusion of metaphor here, since in the first part of the verse, they are represented as asleep or intoxicated, and here, as taken in a snare. Yet the general idea is clear. In one part of the verse, the influence of error is represented as producing sleep or stupor; in the other, as being taken in a snare or net. In both, the idea is that an effort was to be made so that they might be rescued from this perilous condition.

Who are taken captive by him at his will. Marg., alive. The Greek word properly means to take alive, and then to take captive, to win over (Luke 5:10), and then to ensnare or seduce. Here it means that they had been ensnared by the arts of Satan unto (eiv) his will; that is, they were so influenced by him that they complied with his will.

Another interpretation of this passage should be mentioned here, by which it is proposed to avoid the incongruousness of the metaphor of awakening one from a snare. It is adopted by Doddridge and is also suggested by Burder, as quoted by Rosenmuller in A.u.n. Morgenland. According to this, the reference is to an artifice of fowlers: to scatter seeds impregnated with intoxicating drugs, intended to make birds fall asleep, so that they may more securely draw the snare over them.

There can be no doubt that such arts were practiced, and it is possible that Paul may have alluded to it. Whatever the allusion, the general idea is clear. It is an affecting representation of those who have fallen into error. They are in a deep slumber; they are as if under the fatal influence of some stupefying potion.

They are like birds taken alive in this state and at the mercy of the fowler. They will remain in this condition unless they are roused by the mercy of God. It is the business of the ministers of religion to carry to them that gospel call, which God is accustomed to bless in showing them their danger. That message should be continually sounded in the ears of the sinner, with the prayer and the hope that God will make it the means of arousing him to seek his salvation.

2 Timothy - Chapter 3