The Bible tells us to take every thought captive, but what does that actually mean? Fortunately, the Bible doesn't leave us without an explanation.
Thoughts. We cannot get away from them. If anyone tells you they can “clear their mind” and think of nothing, it’s not true. Our brains never stop thinking. Even while we sleep, our synapses are firing and, if we reach a certain level of sleep, we dream. The Bible tells us we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), and our active brains are simply how God wired us. But what of thoughts we wish we’d never have? Our thought life indeed is influenced by what we take in, whether good or ill. So then, how can we take every thought captive?”
Where Does the Bible say, “Take Every Thought Captive”?
2 Corinthians 10:5 is where we find the passage, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
Paul wrote this letter to a Corinthian church struggling against (and some falling into) the debauchery that defined that city’s unbelieving population. From Paul’s sentence, we see "arguments and lofty opinions" (not of God) had been raised against knowledge of God.
What Were the “Arguments and Lofty Opinions” in 2 Corinthians 10:5?
Paul was arguing against those who said he and Timothy (2 Corinthians 1:1) were “walking according to the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:3). He continued by saying although they walked in the flesh, they were not “waging war according to the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:3). Paul did not state their case from human reasoning, but from heavenly truth: “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
The word Paul used for arguments connotates evil intent. And the phrase he used, lofty opinion, implies something antagonistic, as being held over another’s head. And these arguments and opinions were against the knowledge of God.
We must remember what Corinth was like in those days. The city was synonymous with drunken decadence and gross depravity. Paul spelled out a list of corruption in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, including sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, thievery, greed, and swindlers.
The church in Corinth did not completely break away from the culture’s influences, and many lived like the city’s unbelievers. Their thoughts were carnal, and they followed the whims of the debauched society. Hellenistic humanism also gave a trump card for those who followed Epicurean and Stoic philosophy, which further diluted the clear and strong message of the gospel.
How Do We Take Every Thought Captive?
Today’s society holds many philosophies that vie for our attention. Just as our salvation is God’s act of grace toward us, so too is the ability to keep sinful thoughts from captivating our thoughts and senses. The Lord God is at work in us, and the key is to take every thought captive in Christ. Look at what the Word says in Colossians 1:9, “For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me.” Philippians 2:13 says, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
When abhorrent thoughts hit us, we stand firm in faith against them. The full armor of God we are commanded to wear (Ephesians 6:8-10) includes the shield of faith Jesus secured for us. With it, we can extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil ones. All means all, and that’s all that all means. We can then, by His power, take every thought captive in Christ (Ephesians 6:10-20).
What Does It Mean to Be “In Christ”?
We, as believers, are to be in “lock-step” with Him through studying the Scriptures, meditating upon them, and praying that each day we grow in the grace and knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:18). We are His image-bearers (Genesis 1:27), and the Scriptures say we “have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). As such, we are in Him and He in us (John 17:21-23); Ephesians 1-2). We have but to call on Him in prayer to have God Himself help us take every thought captive in Christ.
How Does the Spirit Help Us Take Every Thought Captive?
The sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) is not only defensive as we stand against the wiles of the evil ones. It also takes an offensive role because we are filled with the Spirit and have Scripture in our hearts and minds. When sinful thoughts come and try to capsize our peace, witness, or relationship with the Lord, we are ready to thrust the Word of Truth at them. We have a mighty, unbeatable Advocate (1 John 2:1).
Another amazing passage that helps take every thought captive is Philippians 4:8-9:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
We have but to investigate the Scriptures and see what the Lord has commanded us to do.
Techniques for Taking Every Thought Captive
This acronym, though somewhat light-hearted, is serious in that it will help in times of thought-life crises: PBAJ (or "Peanut Butter And Jelly"). This acronym stands for:
- Prayer (take time for prayer every day, and not just before you eat. A healthy prayer life leads to a healthy thought life.)
- Bible study (this Includes memorizing Bible verses and meditating on Bible verses.)
- Accountability/ Mentorship with a more mature Christian
- Journal what God is teaching you as you read His word (and strung together, “His Word” becomes HiSword!).
Encouraging Bible Verses for Taking Thoughts Captive
John 17:17: Jesus prayed for us to be sanctified in the truth of His word. Sanctification is an ongoing process for us as believers, and we get better at taking every thought captive in Christ.
Colossians 3:1-17: Because of Christ, we have put on new selves; we walk in freedom, away from the sinful thoughts and actions which once controlled us.
Zechariah 1:3, 4:6: His mercy is so great He returns to us when we (re)turn to Him. And all we accomplish is not our doing; it’s not by our might, it’s by His Spirit.
Isaiah 26:3: Keeping our minds (and therefore our hearts) residing in Him will keep us in perfect peace because we trust Him.
Romans 12:1-2: Our worship to the Lord is to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to Him. We are no longer conformed to the world.
Ephesians 5:18-20: We are to be filled with His Spirit, not things of the world. As a result, we are able to address one another as making melody unto the Lord.
Ephesians 6:10-20: The full armor of God—secured for us by the Lord Jesus Christ—is ready and available for us every day.
1 Thessalonians 5:5: Everything we are is of and in the Lord’s light. In Him, there is no darkness, and we are not of darkness any longer.
2 Corinthians 10:13, 12:9: God has given us an area of influence. Our thoughts matter, and in our weakness, His power prevails.
A Prayer for Comfort and Guidance
Father,
You are our Creator, and You are sovereign over every part of our lives, whether our physical, mental, or spiritual being. Your word tells us that You keep us in perfect peace whose mind is fixed on You. That’s how we want to live, Lord. Take our lives, our wills, and conform them to Yours, so even our thoughts form to Your will. Keep us, we pray, from the wiles of the evil ones, for You have removed us from darkness and have made us people of light and of day. Therefore, let us shine for Jesus that many will see You in us and turn their hearts toward You. We pray every day to take all our thoughts captive in Christ.
In the powerful and holy name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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