G163 αἰχμαλωτίζω (aichmalōtízō)

Taking...captive (163) (aichmalotizo from aichme = a spear + halotós = to be taken or conquered) was a military term which mean to take captive as a prisoner or be led away captive (eg Lk 21:24). Paul uses this verb figuratively to describe the power of indwelling Sin to take one captive or make them a prisoner in a spiritual sense (Ro 7:23-note). This verb is used by Paul in 2Ti 3:6 (note) to refer to subjecting or captivating "weak women" by teaching unsound doctrine (error). Kittel has the following note on this word group... 1. Proper Use. The “prisoner of war” is a miserable person in special need of divine aid (cf. Lk. 21:24). The exile gave the term a religious reference (cf. Ps 126:1). The messenger of Is. 61:1 proclaims freedom to captives, and Jesus accepts this as a messianic task (Lk. 4:18). Visiting prisoners is a loving duty (Mt. 25:36ff.), and working and praying for release is enjoined (cf. Philemon 1: 22). God himself grants liberation in Acts 5:19. 2. Figurative Use. Imprisonment may be used to denote subjection to error (2Ti 3:6-note) or sin (Rom. 7:23), but also to Christ (Ep 4:8-note; 2Co 10:5). Paul calls his helpers “fellow-prisoners,” probably not in a literal sense but in the sense of being similarly subject to Christ (cf. “fellow-servants,” Col 1:7-note; Col 4:7-note). (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans or Wordsearch) Aichmalotizo - 4x in 4v...NAS = captivate(1), led captive(1), making...a prisoner(1), taking...captive(1). Luke 21:24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations (Fulfilled in 70AD with Roman invasion of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple); and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Most conservative scholars feel that these "times" began in 606BC coinciding with the first invasion of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, will continue to and through the Great Tribulation as described in Rev 11:2-note and will come to an end when the Stone of Da 2:34, 35-note returns and crushes all the Gentile kingdoms [cp Re 19:11ff-note]. Romans 7:23-note but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 2 Corinthians 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 2 Timothy 3:6-note For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, Aichmalotizo - 9x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Jdg 5:12; 1Kgs 8:46; 2Kgs 24:14; 2Chr 28:8, 17; 30:9; Ps 71:1; 106:46; Lam 1:1 1Kings 8:46 "When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near 2Chronicles 28:8 The sons of Israel carried away captive of their brethren 200,000 women, sons and daughters; and they took also a great deal of spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. In this verse the figurative meaning of aichmalotizo is to subjugate, bring under control or take control of ALL thoughts that are in our mind (cp "fiery missiles of the evil one" Eph 6:16-note) subjecting them to Christ. In context the thoughts we are to bring to Christ are all "anti-God" thoughts. The present tense calls for this activity to be our habitual practice, because we live in an "anti-God" world, ruled by an evil Adversary, and are constantly being bombarded with fiery missiles of "propaganda" in the form of temptations, lies, half-truths, etc. Spiritual warriors get no furloughs in this life. Beloved, don't let your mind go "A.W.O.L." (Absent With Out Leave)! Character is shaped by what the mind takes in and/or what you refuse to "toss out". "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2Corinthians_103-5_exposition.htm#tc