📖 Biblical Definition
Strongholds, in Paul’s metaphor, are fortified positions of false thought that the saint is to tear down — and the weapons of demolition are not of the flesh. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 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" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). The fortress is in the mind — false philosophy, addictive narrative, deep-rooted lie, persistent fear. The demolition is by the gospel, the Spirit, the Word, and prayer. The Christian man takes every thought captive to Christ; the unconquered stronghold eventually conquers him.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
(Pauline metaphor.) Fortified positions of false thought to be torn down by spiritual weapons (2 Cor 10:4-5).
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STRONGHOLD, n. A place of security; a fortified place.
Greek ochyrōma in 2 Cor 10:4 names the structure to be demolished. Paul lists what fills it: imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. The fortress is built of arguments, ideologies, and prideful self-knowledge.
📖 Key Scripture
2 Corinthians 10:4 — "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds."
2 Corinthians 10:5 — "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God."
Proverbs 21:22 — "A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof."
Jeremiah 23:29 — "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?"
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often locates spiritual warfare in geographic territory; Paul locates the primary battlefield in the mind.
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Paul's warfare is mental: casting down imaginations. Strongholds are not first cities or persons; they are arguments, structures of thought, fortified ideologies that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. The demolition tools are the Word and prayer, not flesh-and-blood combat.
The household's strongholds — ideologies absorbed from media, family-of-origin patterns, internalized lies — are torn down by the same weapons. Bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ; the fortress falls by gospel siege.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek ochyrōma — fortress, stronghold.
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Greek ochyrōma — fortress, stronghold.
Note: from ochyros, strong; the fortified place that requires deliberate demolition.
Usage
"The fortress is in the mind; the demolition is by the gospel."
"Bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
"The household's strongholds fall by gospel siege."