2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Context10:3 For though we live 1 as human beings, 2 we do not wage war according to human standards, 3 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, 4 but are made powerful by God 5 for tearing down strongholds. 6 We tear down arguments 7 10:5 and every arrogant obstacle 8 that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey 9 Christ.
1 tn Grk “we walk.”
2 tn Grk “in the flesh.”
3 tn Grk “according to the flesh.”
4 tn Grk “are not fleshly [weapons].” The repetition of the word “warfare” does not occur in the Greek text, but is supplied for clarity.
5 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.”
6 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.
7 tn Or “speculations.”
8 tn The phrase “every arrogant obstacle” could be translated simply “all arrogance” (so L&N 88.207).
9 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.”