Word Count: 729

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2 Corinthians 10:5

by Don Costello  
8/21/2008 / Bible Studies

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.

1."Casting down imaginations"

a. casting [2507 * kathaireo] [Zodhiates: to take down or away, pull down, demolish, destroy.]

b. imaginations [3053 * logismos] [Zodhiates: a reckoning, a calculation. In Romans 2:15 it is translated thoughtthe consideration and reflection preceding and determining conduct.

c. There are thoughts, considerations and reflections that are contrary to the knowledge of God that will precede and determine our disobedience to the will of God. These are what we are to demolish, pull down.

d. 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.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
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 [1112 * goggusmos] [Zodhiates: Grumbling, murmuring, grudging or muttering in general.

a). The murmuring of Israel got them into much trouble with God. The incident in Numbers 16, the murmuring over food, is one of many.

2). disputing [1261 * dialogismos] [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. high thing [5313 * hupsoma] [Zodhiates: Something made high, elevated, a high place, height, elevation.] [Vines: a high thing lifted up as a barrier or in antagonistic exaltation.]

b. exalteth [1869 * epario] [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.]

c. knowledge [1108 * gnosis] [Zodhiates: Knowledge, present and fragmentary.

3. "and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

a. bringing into captivity [163 * aichmalotizo] [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."

b. thought [3540 * noema] [Vines: a purpose, device of the mind.] [Bullinger: What is thought out, hence, purpose design.]

c. 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.

d. Romans 3:3, 4 "For what is some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
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."

1). In light of this passage, and others like it, such as Isaiah 8:20. 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.

2). 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."

My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children.

My e-mail address is [email protected]

I have a blog located at:
www.theophilus-loverofgodsword.blogspot.com/

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