What does it mean to be casting down imaginations (2 Corinthians 10:5)?

Answer

“Casting down imaginations” is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 10, where Paul defends his ministry while interacting with others in person and through letters (refer to verses 7–11). In the midst of Paul’s explanation of the spiritual weapons he uses in his ministry, 2 Corinthians 10:5 states, “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” (KJV). Paul employs divine weapons, not those based on human standards or the flesh.

Some individuals in Corinth had accused Paul of walking in the flesh «but I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. », (2 Corinthians 10:2). To walk in the flesh means to live independently of God and in hostility towards Him (Romans 8:5-8). Paul emphasizes that living according to the flesh must be eradicated, as it leads to death «Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. », (Romans 8:12). We are to live in dependence on God, yielding to His Spirit, which results in obedience to Him «For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. », (Romans 8:13). Through Paul’s teachings on the sinfulness of living in the flesh, the seriousness of the accusation against Paul becomes evident. Therefore, Paul takes the time in 2 Corinthians to defend himself against such claims.

Such an accusation.

Paul tells the Corinthians that the battle he fights is fought with divine power (2 Corinthians 10:3-4) and weapons of divine origin—these are not earthly weapons. The conflict he is discussing is a battle of the mind. In verses 4–5, Paul addresses speculations (or imaginations or pretensions), the knowledge of God, and thoughts, all of which take place in the mind. Paul’s actions in this battle involve casting down imaginations, taking thoughts captive, destroying systems of sophistry raised against God, and demolishing arrogant philosophies contrary to the knowledge of God. All these actions involve the mind. It is evident that Paul is describing a battle of the mind.

The Greek words translated as “casting down imaginations” in the KJV can also be translated as “destroying arguments” (ESV) or “destroying speculations” (NASB 1995). These alternative translations provide clarity to the meaning of the phrase. Paul is using divine weapons to destroy or bring down speculations, arguments, and reasonings that are against the knowledge of God.

The knowledge of God is what He has revealed about Himself throughout the Scriptures (Hosea 4:1;Romans 11:33) and is contrary to the imaginations or speculations Paul is discussing. This knowledge is passed on to others through the Scriptures (Proverbs 2:6;2 Timothy 3:16-17) and through those who live according to the Scriptures «Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. », (2 Corinthians 2:14). Understanding God’s will, as revealed in the Scriptures, leads to a knowledge of Him (Colossians 1:9-10). As the Scriptures are better understood, the mind is renewed, and the Christian is transformed (Romans 12:1-2). This principle leads to the destruction of strongholds or fortresses of thought as the Bible is the divine weapon «And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: », (Ephesians 6:17).

The reasoning of this world is opposed to the truth of God. The unbelieving mind clings to what it considers logic and rock-solid arguments to fend off any impingement of God’s truth into their lies. But when a person is born again, he or she admits the folly of the old way of thinking and discovers Christ to be the wisdom of God «but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. », (1 Corinthians 1:24). Let us then study the Scriptures «Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. », (2 Timothy 2:15), understand God’s will, and attain the knowledge of God. Then we can cast down imaginations that are contrary to the knowledge of God. We can maintain freedom from the empty philosophies of man and remain loyal to the philosophy of Christ «Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. », (Colossians 2:8), walking according to the Spirit «For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that areAfter the Spirit are the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5). The battle of the mind is ongoing, and Paul has disclosed the appropriate actions to be taken.