2 Corinthians 10:4-10

10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons,¹ but are made powerful by God² for tearing down strongholds.³ We tear down arguments⁴ 10:5 and every arrogant obstacle⁵ that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey⁶ Christ. 10:6 We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience,⁷ whenever your obedience is complete. 10:7 You are looking at outward appearances.⁸ If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we. 10:8 For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us⁹ for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.¹⁰ 10:9 I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters, 10:10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak¹¹ and his speech is of no account.”¹²

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

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

³sn 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.

⁴tn Or “speculations.”

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

⁶tn 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.”

⁷tn Or “punish all disobedience.”

⁸tn The phrase is close to a recognized idiom for judging based on outward appearances (L&N 30.120). Some translators see a distinction, however, and translate 2 Cor 10:7a as “Look at what is in front of your eyes,” that is, the obvious facts of the case (so NRSV).

⁹tn The word “us” is not in the Greek text but is supplied. Indirect objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, and must be supplied for the modern English reader.

¹⁰tn Grk “I will not be put to shame,” “I will not be ashamed.” The words “of doing so” are supplied to clarify for the reader that Paul will not be ashamed of boasting somewhat more about the authority the Lord gave him (beginning of v. 8).

¹¹tn Or “unimpressive.”

¹²tn Or “is contemptible”; Grk “is despised.”