2 Corinthians 10:4
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Study Note
Study Note
'For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds' — the military metaphor (strateia, warfare; hopla, weapons; ochyrōmata, fortifications) applied to apostolic ministry challenges the Corinthians' evaluation of Paul's presence as 'weak' and his speech as 'contemptible' (10:10). The claim that weapons lacking worldly impressiveness nevertheless possess 'divine power' (dunata tō theō) expresses the Pauline paradox running through 1–2 Corinthians: power is perfected in weakness (12:9) and the foolishness of the cross is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). The 'strongholds' (ochyrōmata) to be destroyed are elaborated in verse 5 as 'arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God,' making the battlefield intellectual and spiritual rather than geopolitical. The passage grounds Christian advocacy, preaching, and apologetics in a theology of divinely empowered weakness.
Other Translations
(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds);
for the weapons of our warfare <FI>are<Fi> not fleshly, but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds,
(For the arms with which we are fighting are not those of the flesh, but are strong before God for the destruction of high places);
Cross References
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And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I …
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a …
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; …
The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the …
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, …