What I am really attempting to accomplish is this: To shake a few cages and to get folks to actually study the word of God for themselves, and to biblically question every other teaching they receive, regardless of it source. The method: Too provide some tools that will assist in that regard. Reading the Bible is good. I recommend that! But reading and studying are two vastly different things. Most professing Christians do not read their Bibles and fewer actually study it. Study is hard work, as you no doubt already know. I have had to change my way of perceiving God a good number of times over my lifetime. Being a disciple of Christ is a lifetime of growth. Learning, understanding, and applying wisdom, it is not a spectator sport, but a way of life. They want to be Christians their way,according to their own wisdom, ignoring what God has said is the way He requires. Most Christians do not know what God demands of His children. /sigh/ I am one of the worst when I fail in doing what my Father instructed. End of rant.
Correct-our Lord of the Imperatives
Rom 3:28 For we reckon that a man is acquitted and pronounced to be YITZDAK IM HASHEM by emunah (personal faith, trust, bitachon), apart from the [(supposed) zechus-earning] ma’asei mitzvot.
Rom 3:29 Or is Hashem G-d of the Yehudim only? Is Hashem not also G-d of the Nations? Ken, of non-Jews, too,--
2Co 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the basar, [Ep 6:13 17] but full of ko'ach through Hashem to the overthrowing of strongholds, reasonings [Jer 1:10; 23:29]
2Co 10:5 And every high minded thing rising up against the da'as of Hashem, and leading captive every machshavah (thought) into the mishma'at of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, [Isa 2:11,12]
2Co 10:6 And prepared to discipline all disobedience whenever your mishma'at (obedience) is completed. [2C 2:9]
2Co 10:7 You look at things according to outward appearance. If anyone has persuaded himself that he belongs to Moshiach, have zikaron (recollection) of this: as he is of Moshiach, so also are we.
2Co_10:5
arguments -- Thoughts, ideas, speculations, reasonings, philosophies, and false religions are the ideological forts in which men barricade themselves against God and the gospel (cf. 1Co_3:20). - MSB
“Arguments” (NIV, NRSV, TEV) or “speculations” (NASB) ["pretension", "imaginaions" ASV] is a technical term for rhetorical or philosophical reasonings; the prisoners of war in this extended metaphor are human thoughts. Cf. Pro_21:22. - EBCNT
raised [that exalts itself] against the knowledge of God, --
True knowledge makes men humble. Where there is exaltation of self, there knowledge of God is wanting [BENGEL].
Everything which exalts itself is opposed to the knowledge of God, that which makes people think they do not need the provisions of the gospel and are not willing to submit to God's plan for them.
bringing into captivity -- Free from dominion of the body. The mind under the influence of the gospel is to control the body.
every thought -- (παν A-ASN, G3956, every; νοημα N-ASN, G3540, thought)
The Analytical Greek Lexicon Revised, Harold K. Moulton, ed., lists several connotations (p. 280).
1. the mind, the understanding, intellect - 2Co_3:14; 2Co_4:4
2. the heart, soul, affections, feelings, disposition - 2Co_11:3
3. a conception of the mind, thought, purpose, device - 2Co_2:11; 2Co_10:5
The word “thought” (novhma, noçma) is only used six times in the NT, once in Php_4:7, and four other times in 2 Corinthians (2Co_2:11; 2Co_3:14; 2Co_4:4; 2Co_11:3). In every other case, it is translated “mind” by the NIV, except when referring to the “schemes” of Satan in 2Co_2:11. Outside the NT, it can mean “design” or “purpose.” So, we should not think that Paul means that Christ will overcome every random thought we have.
Rather, he has in mind thoughts directed toward a purpose, a philosophy. Also, ultimately it is not just philosophies that become captive to Christ but the people attached to them. “Obedient to Christ” means to accept the gospel of Christ as true and to honor Christ as Lord. - CPNTNIV
1) Even our "thoughts" should be only of being obedient to the will of God.
2) "Thoughts" here are not our own, but of others, and used as referring to their "causes, philosophies, religions, conduct, etc." as being won over to that in harmony with with will of God. (2Co_2:11, used of the schemes, devices, "ways", strategy, plans of Satan.) - WG
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; - BN,
...the weapons of our warfare are able to cast all that to the ground, and bring every thought (‘every conception’[1]), like a captive, into absolute obedience to what Christ demands in thought and action; - Schaff
bring into captivity -- Another military metaphor.
captive -- The verb is a compound of "spear" and "to capture in battle." All things "false" is captured by the "truth."
Shalom brother.
J.