2 Corinthians 10:5

casting down This is not spoken of the weapons, but of the Apostles.

imaginations Rather, as margin, reasonings (consilia, Vulgate, counceilis, Wiclif).The rendering -imaginations" comes from Tyndale. St Paul refers to the efforts of human reason to deal with things beyond it, the best corrective of which is and always will be the simple proclamation of God's message to man.

exalteth itself Or, is exalted.

against the knowledge of God For this phrase see Proverbs 2:5; Hosea 6:6; 1 Corinthians 15:34; Colossians 1:10, and the kindred phrase in Isaiah 11:9; 2 Peter 2:20. Here it signifies that by which we know God, i.e. the Gospel. See 1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Galatians 4:9.

bringing into captivity Another military metaphor. See note on 2 Corinthians 10:3.

every thought The word is the same as in ch. 2 Corinthians 2:11; 2 Corinthians 3:14; 2 Corinthians 4:4. It occurs only in Philippians 4:7 and in this Epistle.