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Selected Verse: 2 Corinthians 10:4 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 2Co 10:4 |
Strong Concordance |
(For [1063] the weapons [3696] of our [2257] warfare [4752] are not [3756] carnal [4559], but [235] mighty [1415] through God [2316] to [4314] the pulling down [2506] of strong holds [3794];) |
| |
King James |
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
A confutation of those who try to propagate their creed by force and persecution (compare Luk 9:54-56).
weapons--for punishing offending members (Co2 10:6; Co1 4:21; Co1 5:5, Co1 5:13); boldness of speech, ecclesiastical discipline (Co2 10:8; Co2 13:10), the power of the word, and of the sacraments, the various extraordinary gifts of the Spirit.
carnal--Translate, "fleshly," to preserve the allusion to Co2 10:2-3.
mighty through God--Greek, "mighty to God," that is, mighty before God: not humanly, but divinely powerful. The power is not ours, but God's. Compare "fair to God," that is, divinely fair (Act 7:20, Margin). Also above (Co2 2:15), "unto God a sweet savor." "The efficacy of the Christian religion proves its truth" [BENGEL].
pulling down--As the Greek is the same as in Co2 10:5, translate, "casting down." Compare Jer 1:10 : the inspired servants of God inherit the commission of the Old Testament prophets.
strongholds-- (Pro 21:22); namely, in which sinners entrench themselves against reproof; all that opposes itself to Christ; the learning, and eloquence, and philosophical subtleties on which the Corinthians prided themselves. So Joshua's trumpet blast was "mighty" under God to overthrow the walls of Jericho. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For the weapons of our warfare - The means by which we hope to achieve our victory.
Are not carnal - Not those of the flesh. Not such as the people of the world use. They are not such as are employed by conquerors; nor are they such as people in general rely on to advance their cause. We do not depend on eloquence, or talent, or learning, or wealth, or beauty, or any of the external aids on which the people of this world rely. They are not such as derive advantage from any power inherent in themselves. Their strength is derived from God alone.
But mighty through God - Margin, "to." They are rendered mighty or powerful by the agency of God. They depend on him for their efficacy. Paul has not here specified the weapons on which he relied; but he had before specified them Co2 6:6-7, so that there was no danger of mistake. The weapons were such as were furnished by truth and righteousness, and these were rendered mighty by the attending agency of God. The sense is, that God is the author of the doctrines which we preach, and that he attends them with the agency of his Spirit, and accompanies them to the hearts of people. It is important for all ministers to feel that their weapons are mighty only through God. Conquerors and earthly warriors go into battle depending on the might of their own arm, and on the wisdom and skill which plans the battle. The Christian goes on his warfare, feeling that however well adapted the truths which he holds are to accomplish great purposes, and however wisely his plans are formed, yet that the efficacy of all depends on the agency of God. He has no hope of victory but in God. And if God does not attend him, he is sure of inevitable defeat.
To the pulling down of strongholds - The word rendered here as "strongholds" (ὀχύρωμα ochurōma) means properly a fastness, fortress, or strong fortification. It is here beautifully used to denote the various obstacles resembling a fortress which exist, and which are designed and adapted to oppose the truth and the triumph of the Christian's cause. All those obstacles are strongly fortified. The sins of his heart are fortified by long indulgence and by the hold which they have on his soul. The wickedness of the world which he opposes is strongly fortified by the fact that it has seized on strong human passions; that one point strengthens another; that great numbers are united. The idolatry of the world was strongly fortified by prejudice, and long establishment, and the protection of laws, and the power of the priesthood; and the opinions of the world are entrenched behind false philosophy and the power of subtle argumentation. The whole world is fortified against Christianity; and the nations of the earth have been engaged in little else than in raising and strengthening such strongholds for the space of 6,000 years. The Christian religion goes forth against all the combined and concentrated powers of resistance of the whole world; and the warfare is to be waged against every strongly fortified place of error and of sin. These strong fortifications of error and of sin are to be battered down and laid in ruins by our spiritual weapons. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Carnal
Rev., better, of the flesh, thus preserving the play on the words. The idea of weakness attaches to that of fleshliness. See on σάρξ flesh, sec. 4, Rom 7:5.
Through God (τῷ Θεῷ)
Lit., mighty unto God, in God's sight. See on exceeding fair, Act 7:20. Rev., before God.
Pulling down (καθαίρεσιν)
Only in this epistle. Compare Luk 1:52. Also used of taking down pride, or refuting arguments.
Of strongholds (ὀχυρωμάτων)
Only here in the New Testament. From ἔχω to hold, so that holds is an accurate rendering. Compare keep, a dungeon. The word is not common in classical Greek, but occurs frequently in the Apocrypha. In its use here there may lie a reminiscence of the rock-forts on the coast of Paul's native Cilicia, which were pulled down by the Romans in their attacks on the Cilician pirates. Pompey inflicted a crushing defeat upon their navy off the rocky stronghold of Coracesium on the confines of Cilicia and Pisidia. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| For the weapons of our warfare - Those we use in this war. Are not carnal - But spiritual, and therefore mighty to the throwing down of strong holds - Of all the difficulties which men or devils can raise in our way. Though faith and prayer belong also to the Christian armour, Eph 6:15, &c., yet the word of God seems to be here chiefly intended. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
The weapons of our warfare - The apostle often uses the metaphor of a warfare to represent the life and trials of a Christian minister. See Eph 6:10-17; Ti1 1:18; Ti2 2:3-5.
Are not carnal - Here he refers to the means used by the false apostle in order to secure his party; he calumniated St. Paul, traduced the truth, preached false and licentious doctrines, and supported these with sophistical reasonings.
But mighty through God - Our doctrines are true and pure, they come from God and lead to him, and he accompanies them with his mighty power to the hearts of those who hear them; and the strong holds - the apparently solid and cogent reasoning of the philosophers, we, by these doctrines, pull down; and thus the fortifications of heathenism are destroyed, and the cause of Christ triumphs wherever we come; and we put to flight the armies of the aliens. |
22 A wise [02450] man scaleth [05927] the city [05892] of the mighty [01368], and casteth down [03381] the strength [05797] of the confidence [04009] thereof.
10 See [07200], I have this day [03117] set [06485] thee over the nations [01471] and over the kingdoms [04467], to root out [05428], and to pull down [05422], and to destroy [06], and to throw down [02040], to build [01129], and to plant [05193].
5 Casting down [2507] imaginations [3053], and [2532] every [3956] high thing [5313] that exalteth itself [1869] against [2596] the knowledge [1108] of God [2316], and [2532] bringing into captivity [163] every [3956] thought [3540] to [1519] the obedience [5218] of Christ [5547];
15 For [3754] we are [2070] unto God [2316] a sweet savour [2175] of Christ [5547], in [1722] them that are saved [4982], and [2532] in [1722] them that perish [622]:
20 In [1722] which [3739] time [2540] Moses [3475] was born [1080], and [2532] was [2258] exceeding [2316] fair [791], and [3739] nourished up [397] in [1722] his [846] father's [3962] house [3624] three [5140] months [3376]:
2 But [1161] I beseech [1189] you, that I may not [3361] be bold [2292] when I am present [3918] with that confidence [4006], wherewith [3739] I think [3049] to be bold [5111] against [1909] some [5100], which [3588] think [3049] of us [2248] as [5613] if we walked [4043] according [2596] to the flesh [4561].
3 For [1063] though we walk [4043] in [1722] the flesh [4561], we do [4754] not [3756] war [4754] after [2596] the flesh [4561]:
10 Therefore [5124] [1223] I write [1125] these things [5023] being absent [548], lest [3363] being present [3918] I should use [5530] sharpness [664], according [2596] to the power [1849] which [3739] the Lord [2962] hath given [1325] me [3427] to [1519] edification [3619], and [2532] not [3756] to [1519] destruction [2506].
8 For [1063] [2532] though [1437] [5037] I should boast [2744] somewhat [5100] more [4055] of [4012] our [2257] authority [1849], which [3739] the Lord [2962] hath given [1325] us [2254] for [1519] edification [3619], and [2532] not [3756] for [1519] your [5216] destruction [2506], I should [153] not [3756] be ashamed [153]:
13 But [1161] them that are without [1854] God [2316] judgeth [2919]. Therefore [2532] put away [1808] from [1537] among yourselves [5216] that [846] wicked person [4190].
5 To deliver [3860] such an one [5108] unto Satan [4567] for [1519] the destruction [3639] of the flesh [4561], that [2443] the spirit [4151] may be saved [4982] in [1722] the day [2250] of the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424].
21 What [5101] will ye [2309]? shall I come [2064] unto [4314] you [5209] with [1722] a rod [4464], or [2228] in [1722] love [26], and [5037] in the spirit [4151] of meekness [4236]?
6 And [2532] having [2192] in [1722] a readiness [2092] to revenge [1556] all [3956] disobedience [3876], when [3752] your [5216] obedience [5218] is fulfilled [4137].
54 And [1161] when his [846] disciples [3101] James [2385] and [2532] John [2491] saw [1492] this, they said [2036], Lord [2962], wilt thou [2309] that we command [2036] fire [4442] to come down [2597] from [575] heaven [3772], and [2532] consume [355] them [846], even [2532] as [5613] Elias [2243] did [4160]?
55 But [1161] he turned [4762], and rebuked [2008] them [846], and [2532] said [2036], Ye know [1492] not [3756] what manner [3634] of spirit [4151] ye [5210] are of [2075].
56 For [1063] the Son [5207] of man [444] is [2064] not [3756] come [2064] to destroy [622] men's [444] lives [5590], but [235] to save [4982] them. And [2532] they went [4198] to [1519] another [2087] village [2968].
6 By [1722] pureness [54], by [1722] knowledge [1108], by [1722] longsuffering [3115], by [1722] kindness [5544], by [1722] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], by [1722] love [26] unfeigned [505],
7 By [1722] the word [3056] of truth [225], by [1722] the power [1411] of God [2316], by [1223] the armour [3696] of righteousness [1343] on the right hand [1188] and [2532] on the left [710],
52 He hath put down [2507] the mighty [1413] from [575] their seats [2362], and [2532] exalted [5312] them of low degree [5011].
20 In [1722] which [3739] time [2540] Moses [3475] was born [1080], and [2532] was [2258] exceeding [2316] fair [791], and [3739] nourished up [397] in [1722] his [846] father's [3962] house [3624] three [5140] months [3376]:
5 For [1063] when [3753] we were [2258] in [1722] the flesh [4561], the motions [3804] of sins [266], which [3588] were by [1223] the law [3551], did work [1754] in [1722] our [2257] members [3196] to bring [1519] forth fruit [2592] unto death [2288].
15 And [2532] your feet [4228] shod [5265] with [1722] the preparation [2091] of the gospel [2098] of peace [1515];
3 Thou [4771] therefore [3767] endure hardness [2553], as [5613] a good [2570] soldier [4757] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].
4 No man [3762] that warreth [4754] entangleth himself [1707] with the affairs [4230] of this life [979]; that [2443] he may please [700] him who hath chosen him to be a soldier [4758].
5 And [1161] if [1437] a man [5100] also [2532] strive [118] for masteries, yet is he [4737] not [3756] crowned [4737], except [3362] he strive [118] lawfully [3545].
18 This [5026] charge [3852] I commit [3908] unto thee [4671], son [5043] Timothy [5095], according to [2596] the prophecies [4394] which went before [4254] on [1909] thee [4571], that [2443] thou [4754] by [1722] them [846] mightest war [4754] a good [2570] warfare [4752];
10 Finally [3063], my [3450] brethren [80], be strong [1743] in [1722] the Lord [2962], and [2532] in [1722] the power [2904] of his [846] might [2479].
11 Put on [1746] the whole armour [3833] of God [2316], that [4314] ye [5209] may be able [1410] to stand [2476] against [4314] the wiles [3180] of the devil [1228].
12 For [3754] we [2254] wrestle [3823] not [3756] against [2076] [4314] flesh [4561] and [2532] blood [129], but [235] against [4314] principalities [746], against [4314] powers [1849], against [4314] the rulers [2888] of the darkness [4655] of this [5127] world [165], against [4314] spiritual [4152] wickedness [4189] in [1722] high [2032] places.
13 Wherefore [1223] [5124] take unto you [353] the whole armour [3833] of God [2316], that [2443] ye may be able [1410] to withstand [436] in [1722] the evil [4190] day [2250], and [2532] having done [2716] all [537], to stand [2476].
14 Stand [2476] therefore [3767], having [4024] your [5216] loins [3751] girt about [4024] with [1722] truth [225], and [2532] having on [1746] the breastplate [2382] of righteousness [1343];
15 And [2532] your feet [4228] shod [5265] with [1722] the preparation [2091] of the gospel [2098] of peace [1515];
16 Above [1909] all [3956], taking [353] the shield [2375] of faith [4102], wherewith [1722] [3739] ye shall be able [1410] to quench [4570] all [3956] the fiery [4448] darts [956] of the wicked [4190].
17 And [2532] take [1209] the helmet [4030] of salvation [4992], and [2532] the sword [3162] of the Spirit [4151], which is [3603] the word [4487] of God [2316]: