2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians · Chapter 10

2 Corinthians 10:5

1Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:2But 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.3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)5Casting 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;6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.7Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.8For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:9That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.10For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.11Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.12For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.13But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.14For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:15Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,16To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
5Casting 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;We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

2 Corinthians 10:1-6Weapons not carnal

About 2 Corinthians 10Paul, who some say is "base" in presence but "bold" when absent, beseeches them "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ." Though "we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh," for "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God," bringing "every thought to the obedience of Christ." Answering the charge that "his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible," he refuses to compare himself with those who commend themselves, for "he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." 2 Corinthians 10:12 Corinthians 10:32 Corinthians 10:42 Corinthians 10:52 Corinthians 10:102 Corinthians 10:122 Corinthians 10:17

Why this verse matters here"Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

Who, where and when in this chapter

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

everyπᾶνpanG3956
all

πᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. …

high thingὕψωμαhupsōmaG5313
height

ὕψωμα (hupsōma) ὕψωμα, -τος, τό [in LXX: Job.24:24 (†), Jdth.10:8 13:4 15:9 * ;] (a) height: Rom.8:39; (b) that which is lifted up, a barrier: 2Co.10:5.† (AS)

lifting itself upἐπαιρόμενονepairomenonG1869
to lift up

ἐπαίρω (epairō) ἐπ-αίρω [in LXX for נָשָׂא, רוּם, etc. ;] to lift up, raise: τ. ἀρτέμονα, Act.27:40; χεῖρας, Luk.24:50, 1Ti.2:8; κεφαλάς, Luk.21:28; ὀφθαλμούς, Mat.17:8, Luk.6:20 16:23 18:13, Jhn.4:35 6:5 17:1; φωνήν, Luk.11:27, Act.2:14 14:11 22:22; τ. πτέρναν (figuratively), Jhn.13:18. Pass., Act.1:9; metaphorically, to be lifted up with pride: 2Co.10:5 11:20.† (AS)

againstκατὰkataG2596
according to

κατά (kata) κατά (bef. a vowel κατ᾽, καθ᾽; on the frequently neglect of elision, see Tdf., Pr., 95; WH, App., 146a), prep. with genitive, accusative, down, downwards. I. C. genitive (WM, §47, k; Bl., §42, 2). 1. C. genitive of thing(s), in local sense; (a) down, down from: Mat.8:32, Mrk.5:13, Luk.8:33, 1Co.11:4; (b) throughout (late usage; Bl, l.with): κ. ὅλης κ.τ.λ., Luk.4:14 23:5, Act.9:31 10:37; (with) in a peculiar adjectival phrase: ἡ κ. βάθους, deep or extreme poverty, 2Co.8:2. 2. C. genitive of person(s), usually in hostile sense; …

knowledgeγνώσεωςgnōseōsG1108
knowledge

γνῶσις (gnōsis) γνῶσις, -εως, ἡ (γιγνώσκω), [in LXX chiefly for דַּעַת ;] 1. a seeking to know, inquiry, investigation. 2. knowledge, in NT, specially of the kn. of spiritual truth: absol., Luk.11:52, Rom.2:20 15:14, 1Co.1:5 (Lft., Notes, 147) 8:1, 7, 10, 11, 13:2, 8 14:6, 2Co.6:6 8:7 11:6, Eph.3:19, Col.2:3, 1Pe.3:7, 2Pe.1:5, 6; with genitive obj., σωτηρίας, Luk.1:77; τ. δόξης τ. θεοῦ, 2Co.4:6; τ. θεοῦ, 2Co.2:14 10:5; Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, Php.3:8 (see Deiss., LAE, 383.8), 2Pe.3:18; with genitive subjc., θεοῦ, Rom.11:33; λόγος γνώσεως, 1Co.12:8; ψευδωνύμου γνώσεως, 1Ti.6:20. …

of GodθεοῦtheouG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

taking captiveαἰχμαλωτίζοντεςaichmalōtizontesG0163
to capture

αἰχμαλωτίζω (aichmalōtizō) αἰχμαλωτίζω (αἰχμάλωτος), [in LXX chiefly for שׁבה ;] in late writers = cl. αἰχμάλωτον ποιῶ (ἄγω), to take or lead captive: before εἰς, Luk.21:24 (cf. Tob.1:10); metaphorically, Rom.7:23, 2Co.10:5, 2Ti.3:6.† (AS)

everyπᾶνpanG3956
all

πᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. …

thoughtνόημαnoēmaG3540
mind/thought

νόημα (noēma) νόημα, -τος, τό (νοέω) [in LXX: Sir.21:11, Bar.2:8, 3Ma.5:30 * ;] a thought, purpose, design: 2Co.2:11 10:5 11:3, Php.4:7. Meton., of the mind, 2Co.3:14 4:4.† (AS)

intoεἰςeisG1519
toward

εἰς (eis) εἰς, prep. with accusative, expressing entrance, direction, limit, into, unto, to, upon, towards, for, among (Lat. in, with accusative). I. Of place. 1. After verbs of motion; (a) of entrance into: Mat.8:23, 9:7, Mrk.1:45, Luk.2:15, 8:31, al.; (b) of approach, to or towards: Mrk.11:1, Luk.6:8, 19:28, Jhn.11:31, 21:6, al.; (with) before pl. and collective nouns, among: Mrk.4:7, 8:19, 20, Luk.11:49, Jhn.21:23, al.; …

obedienceὑπακοὴνhupakoēnG5218
obedience

ὑπακοή (hupakoē) ὑπακοή, -ῆς, ἡ (ὑπακούω), [in LXX: 2Ki.22:36 (עֲנָוָה); in Aq.: 2Ki.23:23 * ;] obedience (opposite to παρακοή); 1. in general, absol., εἰς ὑ., Rom.6:16; with genitive subjc., 2Co.7:15 10:6, Phm 21; with genitive obj., Rom.1:5 (Lft, Notes, 246) Rom.16:26, 1Pe.1:22; τ. Χριστοῦ, 2Co.10:5. 2. Of obedience to God's commands: absol., 1Pe.1:2; opposite to ἁμαρτία, Rom.6:16; τέκνα ὑπακοῆς, 1Pe.1:14; with genitive subj., Rom.15:18 16:19. 3. Of Christ's obedience: absol., Heb.5:8; with genitive subj., Rom.5:19. (The word is not found except in LXX, NT and eccl.).† (AS)

of ChristΧριστοῦChristouG5547
Christ

Χριστός (Christos) χριστός (Χρ-), -ή, -όν (χρίω), [in LXX for מָשִׁיחַ and cogn. forms ;] 1. 1. as adj., (a) of things, anointing, to be used as ointment (Æsch., Eur., al.; τ. ἔλαιον τὸ χ., Lev.21:10); (b) of persons, anointed (ὁ ἰερεὺς ὁ χ., Lev.4:5; οἱ χ. ἰευρεῖς, 2Ma.1:10): ὁ χ. τοῦ κυρίου or Θεοῦ (1Ki.2:10, Psa.2:2, al.), of the Messiah (Aram., מְשִׁיחָא; cf. Dalman, Words, 289 ff.), Luk.2:11, 26 Jhn.1:41, Act.2:36 4:26, al. …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.