2 Corinthians 10:5 - Printer Friendly

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

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.

NASB: We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

CSB: and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.

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

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;

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,

This passage is answering critics among the Corinthians who claim Paul's brash letters and calm persona are evidence of hypocrisy or weakness. Their intent seems to have been undermining authority as an apostle. They would particularly have objected to Paul's right to rebuke or correct those in Corinth in matters of the knowledge of God and the practice of Christian faith.

Paul takes this challenge seriously. He sees himself at war with these false teachers. He has written that he does not fight with physical weapons but with spiritual ones. These tools, such as prayer and Scripture, are powered by God. This makes them potent enough for Paul and his fellow workers to destroy strongholds of resistance to the true gospel of Jesus. The prior verse used terminology referring both to military fortresses and to debate—combining imagery to make a powerful point.

The battlefield in question is not an earthly region, but the hearts and minds of the people in Corinth. In God's power, Paul and his co-workers for Christ are able to destroy all the arguments and impressive-sounding opinions his opponents put forward against the knowledge of God. Using godly tools, Paul and his associates destroy the feeble arguments, but they capture the thoughts of the people in order to motivate them to obey Christ.

In posing this as spiritual war for the mind, Paul reveals an essential truth. Wrong teaching leads to wrong thinking, which leads to disobedience to Christ. Understanding the true knowledge of God leads to right thinking, which leads to obedience to Christ. In going to war against the false arguments of his opponents, Paul's final goal is that God's people would obey Christ. Paul doesn't fight for his own glory or for the sake of victory alone, but to bring more and more obedience to Christ among the Corinthians.

Second Corinthians 10:1–18 contains Paul's response to charges against him from critics in Corinth. They claim that though his letters are potent, he is pathetic in person. Paul does not argue either point. However, he issues a stern warning: that he will arrive prepared for boldness in Christ in punishing every disobedience. He describes the conflict with the false apostles as a spiritual war. He and his associates plan to win that battle by capturing the thoughts of the Corinthians again so they will obey Christ. He will not boast to defend himself except in the Lord.

Critics and other opponents in Corinth argue that though Paul's letters are strong and weighty, he is unimpressive in person. In response, Paul warns the Corinthians not to make him show how bold he can be when he arrives. Paul and his partners fight for the truth about God and the gospel. They battle using spiritual weapons that destroy false arguments. He won't trade boasts with the false apostles, but will only boast in the Lord, who approves of him. The Corinthians should know that—they came to Christ as a result of Paul's ministry to them as an apostle.

Second Corinthians 10 continues the pattern of Paul's letter, as he deals with one topic after another in an orderly way. After concluding his comments about the contribution to the Christians in Jerusalem, Paul tackles a personal charge against him: that he is too unimpressive in person to be a true apostle of Christ. He insists he will follow through on the strong words in his letters when he comes to see them. He is fighting a spiritual war for the minds of the Corinthians and their obedience to Christ and will not stoop to the blatant self-promotion of the false apostles. This counter of false teachers continue into chapter 11.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.