2 Corinthians 10 · Verse 4

2 Corinthians 10:4

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2 Corinthians 10:4, King James Version

2 Corinthians 10:4 in other translations

BSBThe weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
WEBfor the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,
ASV(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds);
YLTfor the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds,
DARBYFor the arms of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful according to God to the overthrow of strongholds;
BBE(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);
Webster(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

What does 2 Corinthians 10:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. A confutation of those who try to propagate their creed by force and persecution (compare Lu 9:54-56). weapons--for punishing offending members (2Co 10:6; 1Co 4:21; 5:5, 13); boldness of speech, ecclesiastical discipline (2Co 10:8; 2Co 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 2Co 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 (Ac 7:20, Margin). Also above (2Co 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 2Co 10:5, translate, "casting down." Compare Jr 1:10: the inspired servants of God inherit the commission of the Old Testament prophets. strongholds--(Pr 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. For the weapons of our warfare. The means by which we hope to achieve our victory.

Are not careful. Not those of the flesh. Not such as the men of the world use. They are not such as are employed by conquerors; nor are they such as men 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 men 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. Marg., "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, 2Cor 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 men. 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 strong holds. The word here rendered "strongholds" (οχυρωμα) 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 six thousand 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.

(b) "weapons of our warfare" Eph 6:13, 1Thes 5:8 (c) "are not carnal" 1Timm 1:18 (1) "mighty" or "to" (d) "through God" 2co 13:3,4 (e) "strong holds" Jer 1:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 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; 1Tim 1:18; 2Tim 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

While others thought meanly, and spake scornfully of the apostle, he had low thoughts, and spake humbly of himself. We should be aware of our own infirmities, and think humbly of ourselves, even when men reproach us. The work of the ministry is a spiritual warfare with spiritual enemies, and for spiritual purposes. Outward force is not the method of the gospel, but strong persuasions, by the power of truth and the…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 →

2 Corinthians 10:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τὰtaTheG3588
γὰρgarforG1063
ὅπλαhoplaweaponsG3696
τῆςtēsof theG3588
στρατείαςstrateiaswarfareG4752
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
οὐou[are] notG3756
σαρκικὰsarkikafleshlyG4559
ἀλλὰallabutG235
δυνατὰdunatapowerfulG1415
τῷtō<the>G3588
θεῷtheōdivinelyG2316
πρὸςprostoG4314
καθαίρεσινkathairesin[the] demolitionG2506
ὀχυρωμάτων,ochurōmatōnof strongholds,G3794

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 10:4

  • 2 Corinthians 6:7

    By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

  • Ephesians 6:13-18

    Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. …

  • Jeremiah 1:10

    See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:5

    That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

  • 1 Samuel 17:45-50

    Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. …

  • 2 Corinthians 13:3-4

    Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

  • 1 Timothy 1:18

    This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

  • Zechariah 4:6-7

    Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

  • Romans 13:12

    The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:8

    But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:7

    But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

  • Romans 6:13

    Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the weapons.
6:7; Ro 6:13; *marg:
Ro 13:12; Eph 6:13-18; 1Th 5:8
our.
1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 2:3
mighty.
3:5; 4:7; 13:3,4; Jud 7:13-23; 15:14-16; 1Sa 17:45-50; Ps 110:2
Isa 41:14-16; Zec 4:6,7; Ac 7:22; 1Co 1:18-24; 2:5; 2Co 13:3
Heb 11:32,33
through God. or, to God. to the.
Jos 6:20; Isa 30:25; Jer 1:10; Heb 11:30

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 10:3

    For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

  • 2 Corinthians 10:4

    (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

  • 2 Corinthians 10:5

    Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Read all of 2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians 10:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		(Porque las armas de nuestra milicia no son carnales, sino poderosas en Dios para la destrucción de fortalezas;)
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car les armes de notre guerre ne sont pas charnelles, mais puissantes par Dieu pour la destruction des forteresses,
German
Elberfelder 1871		denn die Waffen unseres Kampfes sind nicht fleischlich, sondern göttlich mächtig zur Zerstörung von Festungen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nam arma militiæ nostræ non carnalia sunt, sed potentia Deo ad destructionem munitionum, consilia destruentes,