Casting 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;
Ver. 5. Casting down imaginations] As the spittle that comes out of a man's month slayeth serpents, so doth that which proceedeth out of the mouths of God's faithful ministers quell and kill evil imaginations, carnal reasonings, which are that legion of domestic devils, that hold near intelligence with the old serpent. Nemo sibi de suo palpet: quisque sibi Satan est. Corrupt reason, like Eve and Job's wife, is always drawing us from God. Out-of-doors with this Hagar.
And bringing into captivity] See here the process of St Paul's ministry. He overthrows, captivates, subdues to the obedience of the Lord Christ. See the like, Jeremiah 1:10. Chosroes, king of Parthia, was so subdued by the Romans, that he made a law that none of his successors should ever wage war with them again. So here.