2 Corinthians 10:5

Contextual Overview

¹ I, Paul, am begging you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. Some say that I am bold when I am writing you from a distance, but not when I am there with you. ¹ I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold to you when I am away! -- ¹ I Paule my silfe beseche you by the mekenes and softnes of Christ which when I am present amoge you am of no reputacio but am bolde towarde you beinge absent. ¹ Now I Sha'ul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Messiah; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you. ¹ Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! ¹ I, Paul, am begging you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. Some people say that I am easy on you when I am with you and bold when I am away. ¹ Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you: ¹ Now I Paul myself beseech you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence [am] base among you, but being absent am bold towards you: ¹ I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— ¹ Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

down: Luke 1:51, Acts 4:25, Acts 4:26, Romans 1:21, 1 Corinthians 1:19, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, 1 Corinthians 3:19

imaginations: or, reasonings

and every: Exodus 5:2, Exodus 9:16, Exodus 9:17, 2 Kings 19:22, 2 Kings 19:28, Job 40:11, Job 40:12, Job 42:6, Psalms 10:4, Psalms 18:27, Isaiah 2:11, Isaiah 2:12, Isaiah 2:17, Isaiah 60:14, Ezekiel 17:24, Daniel 4:37, Daniel 5:23-30, Acts 9:4-6, Philippians 3:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:8

bringing: Matthew 11:29, Matthew 11:30, Romans 7:23

every thought: Genesis 8:21, Deuteronomy 15:9, Psalms 139:2, Proverbs 15:26, Proverbs 24:9, Isaiah 55:7, Isaiah 59:7, Jeremiah 4:14, Matthew 15:19, Hebrews 4:12

the obedience: Psalms 18:44, Psalms 110:2, Psalms 110:3, Romans 1:5, Romans 16:26, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 1:2, 1 Peter 1:14, 1 Peter 1:15, 1 Peter 1:22

Reciprocal: Numbers 32:27 - armed Deuteronomy 29:19 - though I walk Joshua 6:5 - and the wall Joshua 6:20 - the wall Judges 7:2 - too many 1 Samuel 17:39 - put them off Psalms 119:113 - hate Isaiah 2:14 - General Isaiah 14:2 - and they Isaiah 25:12 - the fortress Isaiah 41:15 - thou shalt Jeremiah 1:10 - to root out Jeremiah 3:17 - walk Jeremiah 7:23 - Obey Jeremiah 23:29 - like as Daniel 2:45 - without hands Hosea 7:15 - imagine Nahum 1:9 - do Zechariah 4:6 - Not Zechariah 9:10 - I will Zechariah 9:14 - blow Zechariah 10:4 - of him came forth Mark 2:6 - and reasoning Mark 7:22 - pride Luke 4:32 - General Acts 13:12 - being Romans 1:16 - for it is Romans 1:28 - as they did Romans 6:17 - but ye Romans 11:20 - Be Romans 15:18 - to make 1 Corinthians 4:20 - General 1 Corinthians 9:7 - goeth 2 Corinthians 6:7 - the power 2 Corinthians 7:15 - the obedience 2 Corinthians 9:13 - professed 2 Corinthians 12:7 - lest Galatians 3:1 - ye Galatians 5:7 - obey Ephesians 3:7 - by Colossians 2:8 - philosophy 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - but 2 Thessalonians 1:8 - and that Hebrews 11:8 - obeyed Hebrews 11:30 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 10:1
These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

Genesis 10:1
Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, [namely], of Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and to them were sons born after the flood.

Genesis 10:1
This is the family history of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah. After the flood these three men had sons.

Genesis 10:1
This is the account of Noah's sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

Genesis 10:1
Now these [are] the generations of the sons of Noah; Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and to them were sons born after the flood.

Genesis 10:1
Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

Genesis 10:1
These are the records of the generations (descendants) of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and the sons born to them after the flood:

Genesis 10:1
These ben the generaciouns of the sones of Noe, Sem, Cham, and Jafeth. And sones weren borun to hem aftir the greet flood.

Genesis 10:1
And these [are] births of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and born to them are sons after the deluge.

Genesis 10:1
This is the account of Noah's sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who also had sons after the flood.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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.

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Casting down imaginations - Margin, reasonings. The word is probably used here in the sense of device, and refers to all the plans of a wicked world; the various systems of false philosophy; and the reasonings of the enemies of the gospel. The various systems of false philosophy were so intrenched that they might be called the stronghold of the enemies of God. The foes of Christianity pretend to a great deal of reason, and rely on that in resisting the gospel.

And every high thing ... - Every exalted opinion respecting the dignity and purity of human nature; all the pride of the human heart and of the understanding. All this is opposed to the knowledge of God, and all exalts itself into a vain self-confidence. People entertain vain and unfounded opinions respecting their own excellency, and they feel that they do not need the provisions of the gospel and are unwilling to submit to God.

And bringing into captivity ... - The figure here is evidently taken from military conquests. The idea is, that all the strongholds of paganism, and pride, and sin would be demolished; and that when this was done, like throwing down the walls of a city or making a breach, all the plans and purposes of the soul, the reason, the imagination, and all the powers of the mind would be subdued or led in triumph by the gospel, like the inhabitants of a captured city. Christ was the great Captain in this warfare. In his name the battle was waged, and by his power the victory was won. The captives were made for him and under his authority; and all were to be subject to his control. Every power of thought in the pagan world; all the systems of philosophy and all forms of opinion among people; all the purposes of the soul; all the powers of reason, memory, judgment, fancy in an individual, were all to come under the laws of Christ, All doctrines were to be in accordance with his will; philosophy should no longer control them, but they should be subject to the will of Christ. All the plans of life should be controlled by the will of Christ, and formed and executed under his control - as captives are led by a conqueror. All the emotions and feelings of the heart should be controlled by him, and led by him as a captive is led by a victor. The sense is, that it was the aim and purpose of Paul to accomplish this, and that it would certainly be done. The strongholds of philosophy, paganism, and sin should be demolished, and all the opinions, plans, and purposes of the world should become subject to the all-conquering Redeemer.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 10:5. Casting down imaginations — δογισμους. Reasonings or opinions. The Greek philosophers valued themselves especially on their ethic systems, in which their reasonings appeared to be very profound and conclusive; but they were obliged to assume principles which were either such as did not exist, or were false in themselves, as the whole of their mythologic system most evidently was: truly, from what remains of them we see that their metaphysics were generally bombast; and as to their philosophy, it was in general good for nothing. When the apostles came against their gods many and their lords many with the ONE SUPREME and ETERNAL BEING, they were confounded, scattered, annihilated; when they came against their various modes of purifying the mind-their sacrificial and mediatorial system, with the LORD JESUS CHRIST, his agony and bloody sweat, his cross and passion, his death and burial, and his glorious resurrection and ascension, they sunk before them, and appeared to be what they really were, as dust upon the balance, and lighter than vanity.

Every high thing — Even the pretendedly sublime doctrines, for instance, of Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics in general, fell before the simple preaching of Christ crucified.

The knowledge of God — The doctrine of the unity and eternity of the Divine nature, which was opposed by the plurality of their idols, and the generation of their gods, and their men-made deities. It is amazing how feeble a resistance heathenism made, by argument or reasoning, against the doctrine of the Gospel! It instantly shrunk from the Divine light, and called on the secular power to contend for it! Popery sunk before Protestantism in the same way, and defended itself by the same means. The apostles destroyed heathenism wherever they came; the Protestants confuted popery wherever their voice was permitted to be heard.

Bringing into captivity every thought — HEATHENISM could not recover itself; in vain did its thousands of altars smoke with reiterated hecatombs, their demons were silent, and their idols were proved to be nothing in the world. POPERY could never, by any power of self-reviviscence, restore itself after its defeat by the Reformation: it had no Scripture, consecutively understood; no reason, no argument; in vain were its bells rung, its candles lighted, its auto da fe's exhibited; in vain did its fires blaze; and in vain were innumerable human victims immolated on its altars! The light of God penetrated its hidden works of darkness, and dragged its three-headed Cerberus into open day; the monster sickened, vomited his henbane, and fled for refuge to his native shades.

The obedience of Christ — Subjection to idols was annihilated by the progress of the Gospel among the heathens; and they soon had but one Lord, and his name one. In like manner the doctrines of the reformation, mighty through God, pulled down-demolished and brought into captivity, the whole papal system; and instead of obedience to the pope, the pretended vicar of God upon earth, obedience to Christ, as the sole almighty Head of the Church, was established, particularly in Great Britain, where it continues to prevail. Hallelujah! the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth!