G2221 ζωγρέω (zōgréō)

Held captive (2221) (zogreo from zoós = alive + agreúo = catch or entrap) means literally to catch alive as hunters or fishermen do their game. The idea is to bring under control and to continue to restrain. Strong's Lexicon says it means to make a prisoner of war, a good play on words since these poor individuals are indeed victims of a spiritual war in the heavenlies! It is used figuratively (or spiritually) to describe those who become live captives of the devil in a moral sense. The passive voice indicates that the captivating influence or power comes from an source outside the one who is captivated, in this case the devil. Those who are in opposition to God’s work, whether they know it or not, are bound in a demonic deception, and are doing the devil’s work and need to be set free! The perfect tense speaks of past completed action with continuing present effect or result. In other words, these individuals were captured alive at some point in time in the past and are still ensnared, held as a prisoner of spiritual warfare by the deceiver himself. This tense conveys the idea that the devil's intention is to keep them permanently captive. The devil snares people through clever arguments, fear, and appeals to selfish pride and ambition (appealing to our fallen sin nature). Christians should exercise a healthy awareness of (but not a preoccupation with) the participation of the Devil in the thinking of those who oppose us in the spiritual realm. We must be alert to the fact that contending for truth involves contending with spiritual powers. It follows that we must not be so naive as to think we can confront such opposition on purely human terms. On the other hand, as the Lord's bondservants we must maintain a healthy balance and not become so preoccupied with the devil's role that we lose sight of the Lord's sovereignty and omnipotence. Remember this is not a power struggle but a struggle over truth. Remember also that this verse does not instruct us to go off on "witch hunts", seeking demons behind every spiritual problem we encounter. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and the proper discernment and adequate empowerment will be supplied by the King, so that we are prepared for every good work. Zogreo is used figuratively (spiritually) by Jesus in Luke's gospel where it refers to catching men by preaching of gospel. After showing the disciples His miraculous ability to bring about an incredible catch of fish, He said to Simon, Do not fear, from now on you will be catching (zogreo = winning people for God's kingdom) men. (Lk 5:10) Edwards notes that God's program is to catch men alive and turn them into fishers of men; Satan's program is also to catch men alive, but then to turn them into destroyers of men. It is a rather sobering thought to realize that none of us can escape being used, whether by the Prince of peace or by the Prince of darkness. All of us are playing a part on the stage of human history, and our performance will promote either good or evil, light or darkness, Christ or Satan. There is no comfortable middle ground; no haven for the complacent and mediocre saint, though many would vainly imagine that there is. (2 Timothy Call to Completion) Guy King rightly laments... One is reminded of the prodigal, in Luke 15:17, who "came to himself." He had not been himself for a long time. Benjamin Disraeli once said of W. E. Gladstone that he was "intoxicated with the exuberance of his own verbosity"; well, that prodigal, it seems, was intoxicated with the exuberance of his own conviviality - he had completely lost himself. But "when he came to himself" - he saw his utter folly, and found his way back home again. So he recovered himself; and so these parishioners of Ephesus. (2 Timothy 2:22-26 Meet Three Groups) To do (1519) (eis) is the preposition of motion into any place or thing. In this context into the devil's will.