Repentance in 2 Timothy 2:25

23     But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24     And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

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

26     And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Subject Called to Repentance:   They that do gender strifes.

Object of Repentance:        Heretical doctrines.  Certain persons put forth heretical interpretations and conjectures to get attention.  They "gender strife."  (Stir up strife and contention.)  These are a pathological narcissists that feed off of attention.  To create strife and debate over contrived doctrines makes them feel important, and smart, as if they have raised some scholarly question that has merited the time and attention of elders of the church.  A believer's first objective should be to restore a heretic.  No one likes to be told they are wrong, especially not a narcissist, who is never wrong!  Paul instructs the man of God to instruct such persons in meekness, against the hope that God might grant the heretic repentance.  That is, that the heretic might to change his mind from believing the lie that he has cultivated in his vain imaginations, acknowledging the truth.

Consequence of repentance:       "That they (the heretic) may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."  More simply, to restore the heretic to sound doctrine.

Repentance in 2 Timothy 2:25