2:26 And [that] they may recover. They are in the snare of the devil, taken captive at will. The only hope is that in the providence of God they may recover themselves (the idea is, to return to soberness, Revised Version, margin), repent, and acknowledge the truth. Men are commanded to Repent, Mt 3:2 Ac 2:38, etc. but here God is alluded to as peradventure giving repentance. The meaning is made clear by comparing with Ac 11:18: Then hath God also the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. The meaning there is that God has granted to the Gentiles the privilege of repentance, even as unto the Jews. So Paul's idea here is that God, peradventure, may grant these, though sinning so grievously, opportunities for repentance, instead of delivering them over to hardness of heart.
2:26 Who - At present are not only captives, but asleep; utterly insensible of their captivity.
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.
