I have quoted, taught, and preached on this passage many times. It is yet one of those verses/passages that perhaps we would like to ignore – but we must not. Even the thought to “put it aside” must be taken captive and made obedient to Christ.

v3 says “for although we live” – literally, peripateo “because we walk about, conduct ourselves, behave in a matter… in the flesh – sarki – physical earthly bodily – YET – we do not fight spiritual battles in that manner. We must engage in a spiritual pattern, a spiritual manner.

And don’t say, “I can’t” because v4 the weapons of our warfare are not flesh

If we were not equipped that would be a different conversation, but we know that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, which you have of God.

So our weapons – hopla = tools, implements, weapons, armor – are powerful – dynata = able, could, influential men, man of power, possible – through God

why? it continues FOR – see God gives us all we need… Oh I remember another of those verses I love and hate – excuse removing verses – 2 Peter 1:3 – all we need for life and godliness

our Weapons are powerful for the demolition of strongholds

Yes – strongholds will rise and be built within and without, but through God, in Christ, by the Power of the Holy Spirit; we have powerful weapons for the demolition of those strongholds.

Follow the structure here: “Although” – we are in a fleshly world – “Since” – our weapons are NOT fleshly, and ARE powerful, and FOR demolition. (THEN) we “Demolish” arguments, pride against the knowledge of God…

AND – Take Captive Every Thought – that Greek word aichmalotizo = captivate, lead captive, make a prisoner – That’s what we are supposed to be doing and this isn’t a once, check the box, kind of thing. It is in the Present, Active, Participle, Plural Tense. That means this is something that we DO, we Are DOING, and we are doing to ALL things. It’s not just “take” but takING. It’s not just back then, but now, and now, and now, and now, always.

We take very thought captive- we do not give it freedom to run AMUK.

That’s a word I love. It’s such a funny sounding word, but powerful in description. It means to “behave in a violent an uncontrol. led manner.

We can’t control the arrival of false thoughts, or suggestions of ungodly thinking, but we CAN powerfully take those thoughts captive, chain them up, counter them with the truth of God’s Word and the Spirit’s direction, and make those thoughts obey Christ.

OH My – if we would live this, how free we would be – binding the attacks of the evil one to our thought life, before it ever becomes action.

And YES, we can, in Christ live like this.

I referenced, 2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has given us EVERYTHING required for Life and Godliness

Sometimes we think – oh this is just “Spiritual” stuff not “Life” stuff. No it is both. 1Peter 1:5 says by faith we are shielded by God’s power until the coming of final salvation.

his divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Hiim who called us (no one comes except the Father draws him John 6:44) by his glory and goodness – by these he has given us great and precious promises – SO THAT – through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in this world because of evil desires

Oh my fellow travelers – the battle is real, but we have access to all we need.

What did the Great Yogi Berra say? “Baseball is 90% mental… the other HALF is physical” Wow that’s funny math… but do you get what he’s saying?

So here then, perhaps we are saying that Our Battle is 100% Spiritual and the other half is Mental – and so take captive every thought and make it obey Christ and then the Physical Half will take care of itself – selah