²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.^{(A) 25} Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,^{(B) 26} and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,^(C) who has taken them captive to do his will.

²⁶ If Satan^(A) drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul,^(B) by whom do your people^(C) drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God^(D) has come upon you.

²⁹ “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.