2 Corinthians 10 5

2 Corinthians 10:5 kjv

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2 Corinthians 10:5 nkjv

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

2 Corinthians 10:5 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.

2 Corinthians 10:5 esv

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

2 Corinthians 10:5 nlt

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10 verses

2 Corinthians 10 5 Meaning

2 Corinthians 10:5 calls believers to engage in spiritual warfare, specifically against false ideas and proud intellectual arguments that oppose God's truth. Using military metaphors, it asserts the necessity of actively dismantling human reasonings and elevated thoughts that stand against the knowledge of God. The ultimate goal is to bring every single thought and mental construct into submission and obedience to the authority and will of Christ. This verse highlights the profound spiritual nature of our mental lives and the imperative for Christ's Lordship over our minds.

2 Corinthians 10 5 Context

The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians chapter 10, defends his apostolic authority and the spiritual nature of his ministry against critics in Corinth. These critics likely boasted in worldly wisdom, eloquent speech, and outward appearances, perceiving Paul's physical presence and rhetorical style as weak (2 Cor 10:1-2, 10). Paul, however, asserts that his "weapons" are not carnal but possess "divine power to demolish strongholds" (2 Cor 10:4). This verse (10:5) elaborates on what these spiritual strongholds are—human reasonings and intellectual pride—and precisely how these divine weapons are used: to actively dismantle and subject all thought to Christ. The overarching context is Paul's explanation of true spiritual authority and effective ministry, contrasting it with worldly standards and philosophies prevalent in Corinth, a city renowned for its intellectualism and philosophical schools. He confronts a mindset that exalts human thought above divine revelation, setting the stage for a spiritual battle in the realm of ideas and intentions.

2 Corinthians 10 5 Word analysis

• "We demolish" (καθαιροῦμεν - kathaiairoumen):
  • This is an active verb, indicating deliberate and powerful action.
  • It literally means "to pull down," "throw down," or "destroy," often used in a military context for dismantling fortifications or structures.
  • It signifies not just refuting or arguing, but utterly bringing to an end, stripping away the foundation of something.
• "arguments" (λογισμοὺς - logismous):
  • Derived from logizomai, meaning "to reckon" or "to calculate."
  • It refers to human reasonings, thoughts, schemes, or inferences.
  • In this context, it often implies reasonings that are speculative, fallacious, or that contradict divine truth, especially those formulated with human pride or cleverness.
• "and every pretension" (καὶ πᾶν ὕψωμα - kai pan hypsōma):
  • "Pan" (πᾶν) means "every" or "all," emphasizing totality.
  • "Hypsōma" (ὕψωμα) means "a high thing," "an elevated place," "a rampart," or "a height."
  • It signifies anything that exalts itself, specifically against God. This could be proud philosophical systems, self-righteous attitudes, or any form of intellectual arrogance that places human achievement or reasoning above God's revelation. It often connotes a fortified barrier against divine truth.
• "that sets itself up" (ἐπαιρόμενον - epairomenon):
  • Participle of epairō, meaning "to lift oneself up," "to raise," or "to exalt."
  • It emphasizes the active, conscious rebellion and defiance against God inherent in these arguments and pretensions. It's not passive resistance but an assertive, proud elevation.
• "against the knowledge of God" (κατὰ τῆς γνώσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ - kata tēs gnōseōs tou Theou):
  • "Kata" (κατὰ) means "against" or "down upon," indicating opposition.
  • "Gnōseōs" (γνώσεως) refers to knowledge, understanding, or recognition.
  • Here, it signifies the true, revealed understanding of God, His character, His will, and His truth as revealed in scripture and supremely in Christ. These human "high things" inherently contradict or diminish divine revelation.
• "and we take captive" (καὶ αἰχμαλωτίζοντες - kai aichmalōtizontes):
  • Another military term, meaning "to make prisoner of war," "to lead captive."
  • This action signifies a triumphant capture and control over the enemy's territory (the mind/thoughts). It is an act of subjugation, not just defeat.
• "every thought" (πᾶν νόημα - pan noēma):
  • Again, "pan" for totality: all thoughts.
  • "Noēma" (νόημα) refers to "a thought," "an understanding," "a perception," or "a mental purpose."
  • It's a comprehensive term encompassing all mental operations, intentions, ideas, and concepts within an individual's mind, showing the extent of spiritual authority and the scope of internal transformation.
• "to make it obedient to Christ" (εἰς τὴν ὑπακοὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ - eis tēn hypakoēn tou Christou):
  • "Eis" (εἰς) signifies the goal or purpose: unto or into.
  • "Hypakoēn" (ὑπακοὴν) means "obedience" or "submission," literally "a hearing under," implying humble submission to authority after hearing.
  • "Tou Christou" (τοῦ Χριστοῦ) denotes "of Christ." The ultimate standard and authority to which every thought must submit. This highlights Christ's Lordship over all aspects of human intellect and will.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "We demolish arguments and every pretension": This phrase sets the combative tone. It indicates that the spiritual battle involves a direct and aggressive attack on hostile intellectual structures, both logical constructs (logismous) and arrogant assumptions (hypsōma). The divine weapons of 2 Cor 10:4 are directed here.
• "that sets itself up against the knowledge of God": This clarifies the target: any human thinking or pride that opposes or elevates itself above God's revealed truth. It marks these "strongholds" as anti-God in their nature and intent, not merely neutral human inquiry.
• "and we take captive every thought": This signifies a change of status, from freedom (or rebellion) to submission. It implies actively arresting mental wanderings, doubts, and worldly ideologies, asserting dominion over the internal mental landscape. "Every thought" is key; no corner of the mind is to remain unconquered.
• "to make it obedient to Christ": This is the precise objective of the entire operation. It's not enough to simply destroy falsehoods; the vacuum must be filled with submission to Christ's Lordship. This is the positive outcome of the spiritual demolition, where every idea is brought under Christ's authority, aligned with His truth, and dedicated to His will.

2 Corinthians 10 5 Bonus section

The spiritual warfare described in 2 Corinthians 10 is deeply internal, focusing on the cognitive domain. The military metaphors—"demolish," "strongholds," "take captive"—are vivid and intentional, suggesting an active, even aggressive, engagement required by believers. This isn't passive defense but an offensive strategy where spiritual power dismantles opposing intellectual fortresses. This echoes the concept of metanoia (repentance), which signifies a "change of mind." Paul highlights that intellectual assent alone is insufficient; a full surrender of the intellect to Christ is required. This pursuit aligns with Christ's supremacy not just over actions but over our very consciousness and the narratives we build in our minds. It touches on apologetics and worldview formation within the Christian life, demonstrating that every belief system and every individual thought must pass under the banner of Christ's Lordship. The transformation of the mind is central to sanctification (Rom 12:2).

2 Corinthians 10 5 Commentary

2 Corinthians 10:5 provides a crucial insight into spiritual warfare, moving the battleground from visible actions to the invisible realm of the mind. Paul, countering criticisms of his apparent weakness, declares the spiritual strength of his ministry to be capable of demolishing not physical structures, but "strongholds" of the mind. These "strongholds" manifest as proud "arguments" and "pretensions"—human reasonings and intellectual pride that set themselves against the knowledge of God. This encompasses philosophical systems, cultural ideologies, self-justifying thoughts, and anything that exalts human wisdom above divine revelation. The process involves an active, divinely empowered "demolition" of such intellectual strongholds. Beyond merely destroying falsehoods, the Christian is called to a further, equally vital step: "taking captive every thought." This means every concept, intention, and idea must be brought under scrutiny and submitted to Christ's Lordship. It's a continuous, transformative process where our entire mental landscape—our beliefs, perceptions, and responses—is progressively aligned with Christ's truth and obedient to His will. This holistic submission ensures that Christ, rather than human wisdom or worldly ideologies, becomes the ultimate arbiter of truth and controller of our inner lives.

• Example: When facing the prevailing cultural thought that absolute truth does not exist, believers "demolish" this "argument" by holding fast to God's revealed Word, which asserts the reality of absolute truth (John 14:6, John 17:17). They "take captive every thought" related to subjective truth and make it "obedient to Christ" by submitting to Him as the embodiment of truth.
• Example: If a Christian harbors feelings of bitterness or unforgiveness due to a past wrong, they can identify these as "thoughts" setting themselves against God's command to forgive (Eph 4:32). They then actively "demolish" the justification for holding onto bitterness and "take captive" those thoughts, replacing them with a conscious choice to forgive in obedience to Christ.