Casting Down Imaginations
Casting Down Imaginations
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 KJV
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 NIV
What does it mean to cast down imaginations?
First of all, cast down here means to throw down, to pull down, to demolish, to destroy. You are not supposed to play games with your imaginations. You are not supposed to gently lay them down. No, you are supposed to use force until they are destroyed.
What are imaginations in this verse?
The word “thoughts” is a fair translation. From above you can see that the NIV translates that word as “arguments”. Some commentaries1 say that this word means reasonings or opinions, or the “the carnal reasonings of the minds of natural men against God”2 .
What are the high things that we are to cast down?
High things are, “every exalted opinion respecting the dignity and purity of human nature; all the pride of the human heart and of the understanding ”3, or “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”4.
What else are we to do with these high and lofty thoughts?
Take them captive, that is, make them a prisoner. Don’t let them loose. Don’t ignore them and hope they will go away.
What is one way we can know if our thoughts are in obedience to Christ?
We can check them against Philippians 4:8!
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8 KJV
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV
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(c) 2014 Cheryl Cope
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- for example Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible available at biblehub.com [↩]
- Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible available at www.biblehub.com [↩]
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible from www.biblehub.com [↩]
- Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible from www.biblehub.com [↩]