²⁵ instructing his opponents with gentleness.^(A) Perhaps God will grant them repentance^(B) leading them to the knowledge of the truth. ²⁶ Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil,^(C) who has taken them captive to do his will.^(D)

⁴ In their case, the god of this age^(A) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,^[a](B) who is the image of God.^(C)