2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exhalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
a. NLT: We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
b. NIV: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
c. Clearly what is being referred to here is any philosophy, any mindset, any reasoning or thought process that rises up to challenge the word of God. The first example of this recorded in Scripture is of course in the first chapters of Genesis.
d. Amplified Bible Classic: [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
e. Worrell Translation: casting down reasonings, and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
f. Wuest Translation: Demolishing reasonings and every haughty mental elevation which lifts itself up against the experiential knowledge [which we believers have] of God, and leading captive every thought into the obedience to Christ.
g. Peshitta Eastern Text: Casting down imaginations, and every false thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and to capture every thought to the obedience of Christ;
1. “Casting down imaginations…”
a. casting down [Strong: 2507 kathaireo kath-ahee-reh'-o from 2596 and 138 (including its alternate); to lower (or with violence) demolish (literally or figuratively):--cast (pull, put, take) down, destroy.] [Zodhiates: to take down or away, pull down, demolish, destroy.]
b. imaginations [Strong: 3053 logismos log-is-mos' from 3049; computation, i.e. (figuratively) reasoning (conscience, conceit):--imagination, thought.] [Zodhiates: a reckoning, a calculation.]
1). There are thoughts, considerations and human traditions and reflections that are contrary to the knowledge of God. If we as believers allow them to reside in our minds, they will precede and determine our disobedience to the will of God. If we allow them, they will precede and determine our spiritual growth, these are what we are to demolish and pull down, not allowing them in our lives. The result of these strongholds is fear, unbelief and disobedience. This is why the Bible tells us not to give provision to the flesh.
a). Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
(1). provision [Strong: 4307 pronoia pron'-oy-ah from 4306; forethought, i.e. provident care or supply:--providence, provision.] [Thayer: forethought, providential care, to make provision for a thing.]
b). We must not allow ourselves to receive supplies from the enemy or our unrenewed mind, us. In this case the supplies, the provisions are fore thought, thoughts, whining, complaining, unforgiveness, contemplating arguments that doubt the word of God.
2). It is because of these things that some believers never get victory in their lives regarding some areas of their lives, it may be healing, it may be fear. The cause also could be something that we are feeding on as entertainment, music, movies or television shows. As we fill our minds with the word of God on a daily basis, we will begin to be conformed little by little to the image of Jesus, more and more in obedience to the Scriptures because our minds will be renewed to how and why God wants us to live our lives.
a). Romans 12:1, 2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
b). Philippians 2:12-15 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
(1). murmurings [Strong: 1112 goggusmos gong-goos-mos' from 1111; a grumbling:--grudging, murmuring.] [Zodhiates: Grumbling, murmuring, grudging or muttering in general.
(a) The murmuring of Israel got them into much trouble with God.
(b) Exodus 16:7 And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?
(c) Numbers 14:27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
(d) Numbers 14:36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
(2). disputing [Strong: 1261 dialogismos dee-al-og-is-mos' from 1260; discussion, i.e. (internal) consideration (by implication, purpose), or (external) debate:--dispute, doubtful(-ing), imagination, reasoning, thought.] [Zodhiates: thoughts, purposes, debate, disputes] [D.C: It seems that these begin in the mind, to cause us to disobey the word and will of God.]
(3). How do we obey all things without murmurings and disputings? We cast them down, we demolish them. Every imagination that that disputes the word or will of God in my life is to be pulled down.
2. “…and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God…”
a. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that,
then, therefore, when, yet.]
b. every [Strong: 3956 * pas, pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]
c. high thing [Strong: 5313 hupsoma hoop'-so-mah; from 5312; an elevated place or thing, i.e. (abstractly) altitude, or (by implication) a barrier (figuratively):-- height, high thing.] [Zodhiates: Something made high, elevated, a high place, height, elevation.] [Vines: a high thing lifted up as a barrier or in antagonistic exaltation.]
1).These high things would include philosophical, scientific, social, political or cultural arguments or pronouncements, in short, everything in life.
d. that exalteth itself [Strong: 1869 epairo ep-ahee'-ro; from 1909 and 142; to raise up (literally or figuratively):--exalt self, poise (lift, take) up.] [Zodhiates: to hoist up as a sail, to lift up.] [Vines: to lift up one’s self, raise up as against any thing, metaphorically to become exalted.] [D.C.: to raise up an argument, a debate, an idea, a line or school of thought above the word of God.]
e. against [Strong: 2596 * kata, kat-ah; a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.]
f. the knowledge [Strong: 1108 . gnosis gno'-sis; from 1097; knowing (the act), i.e. (by implication) knowledge:--knowledge, science.] [Zodhiates: Knowledge, present and fragmentary.]
g. of God [Strong: 2316 theos theh'-os; of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]
1). This would include all of our philosophies concerning abortion rights, queer marriage and a host of others. We see the beginning of this in the very opening chapters of the Bible, when the devil tried to throw doubt on God’s word tempting Eve.
a). Genesis 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
3:2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
3. “…and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
a. and [Strong: 2532 kai, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
b. bringing into captivity [Strong: 163 aichmalotizo aheekh-mal-o-tid'-zo from 164; to make captive:--lead away captive, bring into captivity.] [Vines: denotes either to lead away captive or to bring under control.] [D.C.: This same word is used of the law of sin and death bringing me into captivity to sin.]
1). Romans 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
c. every [Strong: 3956 pas, pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]
d. thought [Strong: 3540 noema no'-ay-mah; from 3539; a perception, i.e. purpose, or (by implication) the intellect, disposition, itself:--device, mind, thought.] [Vines: a purpose, device of the mind.] [Bullinger: What is thought out, hence, purpose design.]
1). It is our responsibility to discipline our thought life, to make our thoughts obedient to Christ. This is only one of the components of the believers attitude toward the word of God.
a). Romans 3:3, 4 For what is some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true and every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightiest be justified in thy sayings, and mightiest overcome when thou art judged.
2). In light of this passage, and others like it, the word of God has to be the final authority in our lives and we discipline our thought life accordingly. If Scriptures have been presented to an individual, and after they have been presented the truth say something different to me than what the Scriptures say, I am to determine in my heart that what God’s word says is true and what that individual says is a lie. These include strongholds, imaginations and any high and lofty idea that contradicts the knowledge of God. Here are two other verses that compliment this Biblical principle.Another passage that compliments this principle is Isaiah 8:20.
a). Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
b). Psalm 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
(1) The writer of Psalm 119:128 is not saying that whatever God’s word says about anything is correct. [Even though that is true!] What he is declaring is that in his opinion he believes God’s word in all matters to be correct. This is the spiritually healthy, godly attitude that believers must exhibit toward the Scriptures. Some may regard this as brainwashing, but Bless God, we need our brains washed!
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