This post is all about what it means to take every thought captive, where the saying came from, and how you can do it.
If you’ve spent time in Christian circles, you’ve likely heard the phrase, “take every thought captive.” But where does it come from, what does it truly mean, and how can we apply it biblically to our lives? If you’re unsure, you’re in the right place! Let’s explore this concept together, and by the end, you’ll have practical steps to help you take your thoughts captive today.
Where does “take every thought captive” come from?
The Biblical quote to “take every thought captive” is written by Paul in 2 Corinthians 10. In this section, Paul discusses how some people have come against him and say false things about him (he is bold when writing but timid when talking face to face). It is in this context that Paul writes the following:
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).
In the World but not of it
Paul’s first point is that although we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. Here, Paul has people attacking his character, but instead of fighting back in ways the world would encourage, he turns to God (more on that later).
Some of the ways that the world has taught us to fight is through manipulation and smooth words – trying to outsmart another person. We’ve also been told to think more highly of ourselves, elevating our own status while putting others down. This can be both with an image of success (what you do for work) or your perceived power over someone.
However, we are not fighting with what the world fights with.
That is why the first step in taking every thought captive is realizing what weapons you are fighting with. You need to realize what is driving your thoughts and where they are coming from before you can take them captive.
The weapons of our warfare
If we’re not to fight like the world, how do we fight? Paul points us to spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:10-20. The armor includes truth, righteousness, readiness to share the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer. These are the tools God gives us to demolish strongholds and renew our minds.
The sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—is our offensive weapon against the lies of this world. When we know Scripture, we’re equipped to fight thoughts that are not from God. And through continuous prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), we invite God to transform and renew our minds.
How Jesus fought
Jesus, when fighting for our salvation, became meek. He did not fight with an army and overthrow the Roman Empire like many wanted Him to. Rather, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death for us (Philippians 2:6-8). David Guzirk, in Enduring Word Bible Commentary, put it like this: “This kind of victory through humble obedience offended the Corinthian Christians because it seemed so “weak.” The carnal, human way is to overpower, dominate, manipulate, and out-maneuver. The spiritual, Jesus way is to humble yourself, die to yourself, and let God show His resurrection power through you.”
Demolishing strongholds
When Paul says that we are to demolish strongholds, he is talking about anything that contradicts the true knowledge and nature of God.
Here, Paul is writing about Christians who are speaking against him and against the nature of God. These are the very people who are supposed to be speaking only the truth of God. Yet, they are allowing lies to persist in their lives and in others.
Why we take every thought captive
It is because of other people that Paul writes we need to take every thought captive. This is not a command for all believers but a statement about what Paul is doing in the face of His enemies. He is taking their thoughts (or their words against him) captive and submitting them to the truth of Christ.
We, unfortunately, belong to the group of people that Paul is trying to demolish… so we should be submitting ourselves to Paul’s teaching and the scriptures and saying, “Okay, Holy Spirit, do your work and demolish anything in me that is not of you.”
How to apply the scripture to take every thought captive
Although this passage is often misinterpreted as a command from Paul for all Christians, there is still truth to be found in taking every though captive and submitting it to Christ.
We are called to the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2) and part of that is stoping thoughts as soon as we realize that they are not from God.
We are also to glorify God in our bodies and spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Because we were bought at a price we have the responsibility to submit our thoughts to His truth.
Steps to take thoughts captive
It can be hard if you are struggling with submitting your thoughts to Christ. Here are five steps you can take today to make your thoughts obedient to Him.
Categorize your thoughts
Grab a pen and paper and make a list of all the categories of thoughts that you struggle with. Maybe you have a tendency to be anxious, always worrying about the next thing. Maybe you struggle with depression and not feeling good enough. Perhaps you get easily annoyed by your spouse and have feelings of hatred toward them.
Whatever it is you are struggling with, bring it to light and write it down.
Consider what you consume
For each category you struggle with, consider what you consume and eliminate any outside influences that trigger those thoughts. If what you spend your time doing does not bring glory to God and uplift others, it might cause you to stumble.
Maybe you need to remove Instagram because every time you get on there you become envious of other people’s perceived lives. Perhaps you need to turn off notifications because whenever you hear the ding you feel anxious. Or maybe you need to spend less time on Netflix because the relationships portrayed are not godly and they give you a false sense of marriage.
Replace lies with scripture
Now that you’ve been able to identify what your thoughts are and where their main influences come from, it’s time to replace their lies with truth.
Related post: 31 of the Best Bible Verses to Help You Focus On God
To do that, find scripture that speaks truth over your struggles. If you are having trouble in marriage, Ecclesiastes 4:9 or Ephesians 5:22-33 may be a good place to start. Are anxious thoughts getting you down, consider starting with Philippians 4:6-7.
If you aren’t sure how to find verses, do a simple Google search “bible verses for ___” and you will find many.
Memorize and meditate
Make it a priority to meditate on those passages you’ve found. This simply means going over them again and again so that you can internalize their meaning. Don’t be afraid to use some commentaries or other resources to go deeper into the verse and find the context behind it.
You will also want to memorize a few verses so that anytime a thought comes into your head, you are able to combat it with the truth of God. You will be surprised at how quickly your struggle flees when confronted with God’s word.
Pray continuously
Whenever you have a thought that you want to take captive, bring it to God in prayer. Don’t worry if you don’t know the “right words” to say. God cares more about your heart than your eloquence. Simply express to Him that you are struggling with taking a thought captive. You can repeat the verses you have memorized and let His truth speak to you, while thanking Him for His truth. Allow His peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7) to wash over you as you pour out your heart to Him.
Helpful tips for taking every thought captive
Taking every thought captive requires active participation. It’s not enough to wish a negative thought away—you must replace it with truth. Memorize Scripture, pray consistently, and make a deliberate choice to turn your thoughts over to Christ.
Resources to consider to help you take every thought captive
If you struggle with being consistent in prayer, this 5-year journal can help you make it a habit. Simply fill out a small prayer at the same time each day and then you will have a record of the faithfulness of God in your life.
These tiny boho scripture cards are perfect to carry around with you when you are trying to memorize scripture.
Final thoughts on taking every thought captive
Paul goes on to write that “we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience has been made complete” (2 Corinthians 10:6). Here, he is saying that if the Corinthian Christians were unwilling or unable to pull down the strongholds around them, he would do it for them.
Don’t be like the Corinthians Paul was calling out for not wanting to change their lives. Don’t allow strongholds to remain unchecked in your mind. Instead, take every thought captive and submit it to the truth of Christ, living in obedience to Him.
This post has equipped you with practical tools to take every thought captive and walk in the freedom that comes from aligning your mind with God’s truth.
