Taking Every Thought Captive To Christ
The concept of taking every thought captive to Christ originates from the Apostle Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians 10:5, where he writes, "pulling down imaginations and every high thing lifting up itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ" [1]. This verse emphasizes the importance of submitting one's thoughts to the authority of Christ.
In this context, Paul is discussing the Christian's warfare against spiritual forces of wickedness. The "imaginations" and "high things" refer to human reasonings and proud notions that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God [2]. According to John Calvin, this process involves a transformation of the mind, where believers are renewed in the spirit of their minds and put on the new man, created in righteousness and true holiness [4].
The idea of taking every thought captive involves a conscious effort to align one's thoughts with the teachings of Christ. Charles Hodge notes that this requires a manifestation of the truth to every man's conscience in the sight of God, emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit in opening the eyes of the heart to understand spiritual truths [6].
The Reformed tradition, as represented by the Westminster Confession, underscores the importance of regular worship and devotion in maintaining this mental captivity to Christ, including daily family worship and personal devotion [5].
In interpreting 2 Corinthians 10:5, various Christian traditions highlight the significance of obedience to Christ. John Gill notes that the "imaginations" and "high things" refer to carnal reasonings against God and the methods of salvation, which are confounded by the preaching of the Word [3].
The patristic tradition also emphasizes the importance of mental obedience to Christ. Augustine writes about the comforts of God delighting the soul amidst tribulations, highlighting the believer's patient hope in the face of difficulties [7].
The concept of taking every thought captive to Christ is thus deeply rooted in biblical teaching and has been a central theme in Christian theology and practice across various traditions. It involves a continuous process of submitting one's thoughts to Christ's authority, facilitated by the work of the Holy Spirit and nurtured through regular devotion and worship.
Sources
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 10:5 (LITV) — pulling down imaginations and every high thing lifting up itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ,”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 10:5: imaginations--rather, "reasonings." Whereas "thought" expresses men's own purpose and determination of living after their own pleasure [TITTMANN]. high thing--So it ought to be translated (Rom 8:39). A distinct Greek word from that in Eph 3:18, "height," and Rev 21:16, which belongs to God and heaven from whence we receive nothing hurtful. But "high thing" is not so much "height" as something made high, and belongs to those regions of air where the powers of darkness ::exalt themselves" against Christ and us (Eph 2:2; Eph 6:12; Th2 2:4). exa”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 10:5: 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 know”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 58: the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Again, “Be renewed in the spirit of your minds” and “put ye on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Again, “Put ye on 516 the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” 310 310 2 Cor. 3:18 ; Eph. 4:23, 24 ; Col. 3:10 ; 2 Cor. 4:16 . Accordingly through the blessing of Christ we are renewed by that regeneration into the righteousness of God from which we had falle”
- Westminster Confession of Faith (Reformed) “Westminster Confession of Faith (Reformed, 1646), CHAPTER 21 (part 2): as, in private families daily, and in secret, each one by himself; so, more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or willfully to be neglected, or forsaken, when God, by his Word or providence, calleth thereunto. 7. As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him:”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 54: them, if we do not think of them. And it matters little how much we think of them, if we cannot see them; and we cannot see them unless the Spirit opens the eyes of our heart. We see too from this subject why the Bible represents it as the great duty of the ministry to hold forth the Word of life; by the manifestation of the truth to commend themselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. This is all they need do. They must preach the Word in season and out of season, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear. They kno”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 1: Augustine — Confessions, Letters — CHAP. XIV.-- 24. Consider now with attention these three most sacred days, the days signalized by the Lord's crucifixion, rest in the grave, and resurrection. Of these three, that of which the cross i (part 3): are perfect in blessedness. "In the multitude of my thoughts within me," saith the believer, "Thy comforts, O Lord, delight my soul."12 Let us not therefore murmur because of difficulties; let us not lose that breadth of cheerfulness, of which it is written, "Rejoicing in hope," because this follows,-" patient in tribulation." 13 The new l”