2 Corinthians 10:4-5

10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, ¹  but are made powerful by God ²  for tearing down strongholds. ³  We tear down arguments ⁴  10:5 and every arrogant obstacle ⁵  that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey ⁶  Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:10

10:10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak ⁷  and his speech is of no account.” ⁸ 

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¹ tn Grk “are not fleshly [weapons].” The repetition of the word “warfare” does not occur in the Greek text, but is supplied for clarity.

² tn Or “but (are) divinely powerful,” “but they have divine power,” or “but are powerful for God’s [service]”; Grk “but are powerful to God.”

³ sn Ultimately Paul is referring here to the false arguments of his opponents, calling them figuratively “strongholds.” This Greek word (ὀχύρωμα, ocurwma) is used only here in the NT.

⁴ tn Or “speculations.”

⁵ tn The phrase “every arrogant obstacle” could be translated simply “all arrogance” (so L&N 88.207).

⁶ tn Grk “to the obedience of Christ”; but since Χριστοῦ (Cristou) is clearly an objective genitive here, it is better to translate “to make it obey Christ.”

⁷ tn Or “unimpressive.”

⁸ tn Or “is contemptible”; Grk “is despised.”