It seems clear that Paul is describing a war of the mind. overthrowing reasonings and every high thing that lifts itself up against the knowledge of God, and leading captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ; The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: Copy Print Similar Verses Save Share This Verse: You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. Taking every thought captive turns lies into truths. They were at once the lay face of the church, the spiritual heart of civic government, and the social kin who claimed the allegiance of peers and the obedience of subordinates. With them we destroy peoples defenses, that is, their arguments. Download our FREE Spiritual Warfare Prayers Guideto help you combat these forces that are warring every day. not merely human, but powerful to God for the tearing down of fortresses, tearing down arguments. Filled with insights that still apply today, this is a must-read for followers of the Holy Bible. Of course not! Psalm 139:2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. My Prayer for Taking Thoughts Captive. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Height, barrier, bulwark; presumption. What do I do with thoughts that are not pleasing to God? The Hebrew text uses a compelling image to describe the opposite of such reliance. Hebrew Names Version Chapter Parallel 2 Corinthians 10:5 (HNV) throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Messiah; Jubilee Bible 2000 Chapter Parallel From noieo; a perception, i.e. Read also:20 Bible verses to use as a sword against impure thoughts. Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. That God wants you, and He wants you to live! #3: and every pretension And every thought or the supposedly lofty doctrine of mere mortals. From kata and haireomai; to lower demolish. Reasoning, thinking; a conception, device. Psalm 18:44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The "mental intents" ("thoughts") are taken willing captives, and tender the voluntary obedience of faith to Christ the Conqueror." 23 Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought . We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;). The thoughts of men resist the knowledge of God as the stronghold of rebels resists the armies of the rightful king. God has provided a way to overcome unhealthy thoughts and behaviors, and gain the self-control you seek. To stop those ungodly thoughts Paul tells the Corinthian believers, and us, that we must destroy arguments and opinions raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive. I keep every thought under control in order to make it obey Christ. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. Scripture taken from the New King James Version, unless otherwise specified. Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 5 Casting down imaginations, imaginations: or, reasonings and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Matthew 5:28-29. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at [email protected]. The bible tells us to take every thought captive. 5We 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. These weapons would not be carnal. This means that they would not be of this earth or made by man. Jesus invites you to live with full sexual integrityin your behavior, heart, and mind. 17:9), even when we read the parts of the New Testament where someone is speaking other than Christ, we have to do as admonished and "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. What does it mean to come out from among them (2 Corinthians 6:17)? By registering for an account, you agree to Faithlifes. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole. 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 in all English translations. Matt Tommey. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. Paul explains how this is possible: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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 10:4-5. With them we destroy peoples defenses, that is, their arguments 5and all their intellectual arrogance that oppose the knowledge of God. VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. You have the ability to exercise control over your thoughts. Spend time looking up each Bible verse to focus on His creation. By praying to God in the moment when we sense we are being tempted, we can receive power to keep our thoughts pure. This prayer and the 6-minute video afterwards can help you take thoughts captive. and every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. 20 Bible verses to use as a sword against impure thoughts, we become transformed into the person He wants us to be. Instead of succumbing to the despair and darkness of sin, you can take every thought captive and replace it with thoughts that align with God's truth, allowing Him to bring about His best for your life. An online study Bible with 6 versions, 9 languages, 14 daily reading plans, commentaries, lexicons, cross reference & the look and feel of an actual print Bible! 5We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. He also spent five years working with Dr. Jay Adams at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation in Philadelphia. Proud member What does pulling down strongholds mean in 2 Corinthians 10:4? These thoughts are temptations and I have a chance to do something about them before they enter my heart and become a part of me. NKJV, Ancient-Modern Bible, Comfort Print: One faith. 5and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. In fact, it is just the opposite. But how can we control the thousands of thoughts that enter our mind each day? Here are 6 ways to take your thoughts captive: Accept responsibility for your thoughts. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 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. All rights reserved. and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. Paul's actions in this war are casting down imaginations, taking thoughts captive, destroying systems of sophistry raised against God, and demolishing arrogant philosophies contrary to the knowledge of God. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. The wars we fight are not against flesh and blood but against invisible spiritual forces. and every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. All, the whole, every kind of. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. However, as we go through the day, we can catch thoughts and attitudes that are contrary to God's will and keep them from gaining control of our mind and heart. #6: to make it obedient to Christ. To make them voluntarily subservient to Jesus. Use Scripture to Guide You to Truth. We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses. Satan is the Father of Lies and will do everything he can to discourage you. 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 10:3-5. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. How can we, in reality, take every thought captive? And what does His Word say? 3. Proverbs 23:7 NKJV One way or another, those thoughts will harm us. Psalm 110:2,3 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. We must also strengthen ourselves for this warfare beforehand by following Jesus example when He was tempted by the devil to turn the stones into bread:But It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4. ( a) 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; We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Every high thing that exalteth itself.--The noun probably belongs, like "stronghold," to the language of military writers, and indicates one of the rock fortresses, the, "Tot congesta manu praeruptis oppida saxis,", ["Towns piled high on rocks precipitous,"]. Scientists dont agree on how many thoughts we have each day, but all agree there are thousands of them. Against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought - Or, rather, faculty of the mind. They will be conquered with ease. Against the knowledge of God.--The parable and the interpretation are here obviously blended. Why Taking Every Thought Captive Will Completely Change Your Life How Do You Let God Control Your Thoughts? We demolish arguments 5and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. Truth: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (that includes you!) We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. For all the saints. And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; or "carrying captive the whole understanding"; that is, so illustrating it with divine light, that it clearly sees Christ to be the alone, able, willing, full, and suitable Saviour, and so becomes obedient to him, both as a Saviour and a King; such an enlightened soul looks to him alone for life and salvation, ventures on him, and relies upon him, and is desirous and willing to be saved by him in his own way; he receives and embraces all his truths and doctrines with faith and love, and obeys them from the heart, and cheerfully and willingly submits to all his commands and ordinances; for though he is taken by the grace of God, and all his strong holds, reasonings, and high thoughts are demolished by the power of God in the Gospel, and he himself is carried captive, yet not against, but with his will, to be a voluntary subject of Christ, and cheerfully to submit to the sceptre of his kingdom. Arrange the words following thus: "Bringing every thought (that is, intent of the mind or will) into captivity to the obedience of Christ," that is, to obey Christ. Lord, I pray that You would help me take every thought captive and think . 4We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses. Taking your thoughts captive simply means gaining control over what you think about yourself and life. Taking Thoughts Captive Bible Basics Explained | Peace The Faith to Become Fruitful Say No to Anxiety and Fear Who Controls Your Thoughts? 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. Casting down imaginations Or "reasonings"; the carnal reasonings of the minds of natural men against God, his providences and purposes, against Christ, and the methods of salvation, and every truth of the Gospel; which are all disproved, silenced, and confounded, by the preaching of the word, which though reckoned the foolishness and weakness of God, appears to be wiser and stronger than men; and whereby the wisdom of the wise is destroyed, and the understanding of the prudent brought to nothing: and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God; every proud thought of the heart, every great swelling word of vanity, every big look, even all the lofty looks and haughtiness of men, with every airy flight, and high towering imagination, reasoning, and argument advanced against the Gospel of Christ; which is here meant by the knowledge of God, and so called, because it is the means of leading souls into the knowledge of God, even into a better knowledge of him than can be attained to, either by the light of nature, or law of Moses; to a knowledge of him, and acquaintance with him in Christ the Mediator, in whom the light of the knowledge of the glory of God is given; and with which knowledge of God eternal life is connected, yea, in this it consists; it is the beginning of it, and will issue in it. Get the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study as you prepare for Easter. That is, we do not rely on human ingenuity or manmade plans to bring the victory. . 7 Things I Would Do Differently if I Were Raising My Children California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The, the definite article. Into captivity to the obedience of Christ - Those evil reasonings are destroyed. It is possible to live a life aware of our thoughts and taking them captive! 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. Anxiety is a big area where it pays to take every thought captive. Against the false apostles, who disgraced the weakness of his person and bodily presence. 1 Now a I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ - b who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. What we think about is crucial to who we are. This printable Bible study focuses on God's creation. Praise Him for His Creativity Free Printable Bible Study. In this fascinating book, renowned scholar Jo Ann Skousen shines light on Christ's maternal ancestors, including the reformed harlot Rahab, the kind and loyal Moabite Ruth, and the beautiful Bathsheba. English Standard Version. Used by permission. Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, 2 Corinthians 12:10 Meaning of When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong, 50 Biblically Accurate Facts About Angels in the Bible, 50 Most Profitable Youth Group Fundraising Ideas for Your Church, 250 Ice Breaker Questions for Teen Youth Groups, 25 Important Examples of Pride in the Bible, Why Jesus Wept and 11 Lessons from His Tears, 25 Different Ways to Worship God and Praise the Lord. God doesn't desire you to condemn yourself. A guest of the Lathar, Jane hasn't forgotten she's a hard as nails marine. Have We Turned Our Favorite Preachers and Teachers into Idols? - Wesley's Explanatory Notes. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, even against the Holy One of Israel, Matthew 11:29,30 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. That's why it's so important for you to step into your new identity in Christ immediately. The three steps of the apostle's spiritual warfare are: (1) It demolishes what is opposed to Christ; (2) It leads captive; (3) It brings into obedience to Christ (Romans 1:5 , 16:26). Knowledge, doctrine, wisdom. This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We demolish arguments. Please try again soon. 3 For and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that of God gave us the Holy Spirit to empower us. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Often, our thoughts have to be focused on the regular tasks we must accomplish that day. Paul used the imagery of war in telling the false apostles in the Corinthian church that even though he was a man, he would be using weapons from God to wage war against them (2 Corinthians 10:4). No one would dare think of starting a fire where it . 5Casting 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; By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. ESV By registering for an account, you agree to Faithlifes. 4for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. My weapons have the power of God to destroy the camps of the enemy. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemys strong places. Explain verse. A Good and Holy Gift from God On a cold night, have you ever thought about setting the living room rug on fire to keep warm? The flesh is powerless against the wiles of the devil. There was an error while trying to create your account. altitude, or a barrier. 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. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. How to Take Every Thought Captive 1. To take captive means to trap, seize, control, secure, and conquer. reasoning. The Bible tells us to take every thought captive. Richard L. Ganz, What Does the Phrase 'Casting Down Imaginations' Mean in the Bible? Recognize Your Thought Life 2. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. "Don't talk to me," we say.