The phrase “casting down imaginations” comes from 2 Corinthians 10:5, which says “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.”
To understand this verse, we need to look at the context. In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul is defending his authority as an apostle of Christ. False teachers had come to Corinth and were undermining Paul’s authority. In response, Paul explains that though he wages spiritual warfare, he does not fight like the world fights. His weapons are not physical but spiritual, empowered by God (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
With this context in mind, let’s break down what it means to be “casting down imaginations”:
1. Imaginations refer to human reasonings and thoughts
The word translated “imaginations” in the KJV comes from the Greek word “logismos.” It refers to human thoughts, reasonings, and speculations. Paul uses it here to refer to proud human thinking and reasoning that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.
2. These imaginations exalt themselves against knowing God
Paul describes these human reasonings and thoughts as “high things that exalt themselves” against knowing God. In other words, these imaginations promote ideas that are lofty and opposed to a true knowledge of God.
Examples may include rationalizations that go against God’s commands, man-made philosophies that deny God’s existence or character, speculative theologies that distort biblical truth, and intellectual pride that scoffs at the gospel.
3. We are to cast down these imaginations
“Casting down” uses military language to describe destroying strongholds in a battle. Similarly, we are to vigorously combat human ideas and reasonings that contradict the knowledge of God revealed in Scripture.
This doesn’t mean we reject rational thought itself. After all, God gave us minds to use and reason with. But it does mean we reject human arguments that exalt themselves above God’s truth as revealed in the Bible.
4. And take every thought captive to Christ
Not only are we to cast down wrong ideas, but we are also to take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” In other words, our thinking should be conformed and obedient to Christ.
We evaluate every thought, reasoning, philosophy, and speculation according to biblical truth and Christ’s teachings. We submit our thinking to God’s revelation, not the other way around.
5. This requires examining our deepest thoughts and beliefs
“Taking every thought captive” means examining even our deepest convictions and intellectual assumptions in light of Scripture. It’s about making sure that our minds are renewed by Christ and that we think biblically about everything.
This requires maintaining an ongoing, humble willingness to change any thought or belief that is clearly contradicted by the teaching of God’s Word. Our minds must come under Christ’s authority.
6. By doing this, we take part in spiritual warfare
In the passage, Paul connects “casting down imaginations” and “taking every thought captive” to the spiritual battle every believer faces. These are part of the spiritual weapons Paul uses to wage war for Christ and the gospel.
Wrong ideas and reasonings have spiritual power. Speculations opposed to God’s truth reflect the lies of Satan himself. As we gain intellectual and theological ground for biblical truth, we push back the forces of darkness.
7. This requires dependence on God’s power
Paul says he wages this mental and intellectual war “in the strength that God supplies.” We can’t succeed in taking thoughts captive in our own power. We need God’s strength to overcome the prideful, uncontrolled nature of human reason.
Part of taking thoughts captive includes praying for God to help us gain intellectual ground for the truth. Just as we depend on the Holy Spirit in all aspects of spiritual warfare, we depend on Him to help us in spiritual and intellectual battles as well.
8. It brings glory to God
Why does Paul emphasize casting down imaginations and taking thoughts captive? He gives the reason in verse 5: “to the obedience of Christ.” His motive is to make Christ preeminent in all things (Colossians 1:18). He wants every thought conformed and obedient to Christ.
Doing this brings glory to God. It places God’s revelation above human wisdom. And it demonstrates the lordship of Christ over every sphere of life, including our intellect and reason.
9. Practical examples of casting down imaginations
What does this look like practically? Here are a few examples:
- Rejecting rationalizations that justify disobeying God’s commands
- Not basing convictions on human philosophies rather than Scripture
- Examining speculative theologies in light of biblical truth
- Not forcing Scripture to fit with secular theories
- Letting biblical truth shape our intellectual assumptions
- Taking a thought like “I deserve this” captive to truths like “God deserves all glory”
- Casting down anxious thinking with Scriptures about God’s sovereignty
- Combatting lies and arguments that exalt themselves above Christ
10. The goal is living all of life under Christ’s authority
Ultimately, casting down imaginations is about pursuing all of life under the lordship of Jesus Christ. It’s allowing God’s revelation to define our thinking and reason, not the other way around. It’s being committed to knowing God in a way that impacts all of life.
As John Piper says, “All of life is from Him and through Him and to Him… All of life relates to God, and there is no thought or act or work that we can rightfully do without aiming to bring God more praise.” This is the mindset behind taking every thought captive to Christ.
In summary, casting down imaginations means humbly rejecting human reasonings that contradict God’s truth as revealed in Scripture. It’s examine our own ideas in light of biblical principles. The goal is to know God more accurately and make every thought obedient to Christ, for the glory of God.
Here are some key Bible passages on this topic:
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
1 Corinthians 3:18-20 – Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 – For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
So in summary, casting down imaginations means evaluating all human ideas and philosophies in light of biblical truth, taking all thoughts captive to Christ. This is an essential part of our spiritual warfare that brings glory to God.
The key is humbly recognizing the limits of human reason and submitting our thinking to the revelation of Scripture and the lordship of Christ over all spheres of life. As we do this, we take part in advancing God’s truth and fighting spiritual battles at the intellectual level.
Casting down imaginations impacts how we think about morality, human nature, truth, meaning, and every academic discipline. Our goal should be to know Christ more fully and make Him preeminent in all spheres, including philosophy, science, academics, and reasoning.
As 2 Corinthians 10:5 shows, casting down imaginations is a lifelong endeavor that requires vigilance, prayer, Scripture immersion, and dependence on the Holy Spirit. But as we fight this intellectual battle, we can rest assured that God’s truth will prevail and that His glory will be seen in ever greater measure.