Peradventure

<< 2 Timothy 2:25 >>

New International Version (©1984)
Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

International Standard Version (©2008)
and gentle when refuting opponents. After all, maybe God will allow them to repent and to come to a full knowledge of the truth,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
He must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the Good News. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth.

King James Bible
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

American King James Version
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

American Standard Version
in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,

Bible in Basic English
Gently guiding those who go against the teaching; if by chance God may give them a change of heart and true knowledge,

Douay-Rheims Bible
With modesty admonishing them that resist the truth: if peradventure God may give them repentance to know the truth,

Darby Bible Translation
in meekness setting right those who oppose, if God perhaps may sometime give them repentance to acknowledgment of the truth,

English Revised Version
in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,

Webster's Bible Translation
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God perhaps will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth:

Weymouth New Testament
He must speak in a gentle tone when correcting the errors of opponents, in the hope that God will at last give them repentance, for them to come to a full knowledge of the truth

World English Bible
in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,

Young's Literal Translation
in meekness instructing those opposing -- if perhaps God may give to them repentance to an acknowledging of the truth,
Geneva Study Bible

In meekness instructing those that {k} oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

(k) He means those who do not yet see the truth.

People's New Testament

2:25 In meekness instructing them that oppose themselves. Opposers must be corrected, but not rudely; rather gently, kindly, humbly.

If God peradventure will give them repentance. God gives repentance often by providences which lead to repentance.

Wesley's Notes

2:25 In meekness - He has often need of zeal, always of meekness. If haply God - For it is wholly his work. May give them repentance - The acknowledging of the truth would then quickly follow.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

25. instructing-Greek, "disciplining," instructing with correction, which those who deal in "uninstructive" or "undisciplined questions" need (see on [2500]2Ti 2:23; [2501]1Ti 1:20).

those that oppose themselves-Greek, "oppositely affected"; those of a different opinion.

if . peradventure-Greek, "if at any time."

repentance-which they need as antecedent to the full knowledge (so the Greek for 'acknowledgment') of the truth" (1Ti 2:4), their minds being corrupted (2Ti 3:8), and their lives immoral. The cause of the spiritual ignorance which prompts such "questions" is moral, having its seat in the will, not in the intellect (Joh 7:17). Therefore repentance is their first need. That, not man, but God alone can "give" (Ac 5:31).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:22-26 The more we follow that which is good, the faster and the further we shall flee from that which is evil. The keeping up the communion of saints, will take us from fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness. See how often the apostle cautions against disputes in religion; which surely shows that religion consists more in believing and practising what God requires, than in subtle disputes. Those are unapt to teach, who are apt to strive, and are fierce and froward. Teaching, not persecution, is the Scripture method of dealing with those in error. The same God who gives the discovery of the truth, by his grace brings us to acknowledge it, otherwise our hearts would continue to rebel against it. There is no peradventure, in respect of God's pardoning those who do repent; but we cannot tell that he will give repentance to those who oppose his will. Sinners are taken in a snare, and in the worst snare, because it is the devil's; they are slaves to him. And if any long for deliverance, let them remember they never can escape, except by repentance, which is the gift of God; and we must ask it of him by earnest, persevering prayer.

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