2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians · Chapter 10

2 Corinthians 10:4

1Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:2But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)5Casting 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;6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.7Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.8For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:9That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.10For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.11Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.12For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.13But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.14For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:15Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,16To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds);

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

2 Corinthians 10:1-6Weapons not carnal

About 2 Corinthians 10Paul, who some say is "base" in presence but "bold" when absent, beseeches them "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ." Though "we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh," for "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God," bringing "every thought to the obedience of Christ." Answering the charge that "his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible," he refuses to compare himself with those who commend themselves, for "he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." 2 Corinthians 10:12 Corinthians 10:32 Corinthians 10:42 Corinthians 10:52 Corinthians 10:102 Corinthians 10:122 Corinthians 10:17

Why this verse matters here"The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds." 2 Corinthians 10:32 Corinthians 10:4

Who, where and when in this chapter

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
forγὰρgarG1063
for

γάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. …

weaponsὅπλαhoplaG3696
weapon

ὅπλον (hoplon) ὅπλον, -ου, τό [in LXX for מָגֵן, צִנָּה, etc. ;] 1. a tool, implement, instrument: ὅπλα ἀδικίας (Opp. to ὅ. δικαιοσύνης), Rom.6:13. 2. Freq., in pl., arms, weapons: Jhn.18:3, 2Co.10:4; metaphorically, τ. φωτός, Rom.13:12; τ. δικαιοσύνης, 2Co.6:7.† (AS)

warfareστρατείαςstrateiasG4752
warfare

στρατεία (strateia) στρατεία (on the orthogr., see Deiss., BS, 181 f.), -ας, ἡ (οτρατεύω), [in LXX chiefly for צָבָא ;] an expedition, a campaign, warfare: metaphorically, 2Co.10:4 (-τιά, T), 1Ti.1:18.† (AS)

of usἡμῶνhēmōnG3165
me

μέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML)

[are] notοὐouG3756
no

οὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. …

fleshlyσαρκικὰsarkikaG4559
fleshly

σαρκικός (sarkikos) σαρκικός, -ή, -όν (σάρξ) (seel. for σάρκινος, Arist., H.A., x, 2, 7) = Lat. carnalis, i.e. (a) associated with or pertaining to the flesh, fleshly, carnal: Rom.15:27, 1Co.9:11; (b) in a more ethical sense, of the nature of the flesh, under the control of its appetites, fleshly, carnal, sensual (but including more than mere sensuality; cf. Hort, 1Pe., 133): 1Co.3:3, 2Co.1:12 10:4, 1Pe.2:11.† SYN.: σάρκινος (which see), ψυχικός; cf. Tr., Syn., §§ LXXi, LXXii; Lft., Notes, 184 f.; Vau. on Rom.7:14 (AS)

butἀλλὰallaG0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

powerfulδυνατὰdunataG1415
able

δυνατός (dunatos) δυνατός, -ή, -όν (δύναμαι), [in LXX for גִּבּוֹר, חַיִל, etc. ;] 1. strong, mighty, powerful: absol., Luk.1:49, 1 Col.1:26; οἱ δ., the chief men, Act.25:5 ; of spiritual strength, Rom.15:1, 2Co.12:10 13:9; before ἐν, Luk.24:19, Act.7:22 18:24; πρός, 2Co.10:4. 2. C. inf., able to do; Luk.14:31, Act.11:17, Rom.4:21 11:23, 2Ti.1:12, Tit.1:9, Heb.11:19, Jas.3:2. 3. Neut., δυνατόν, possible: Mat.19:26, Mrk.9:23 10:27 14:36, Luk.18:27, Act.2:24 20:16; εἰ δ. (ἐστι), Mat.24:24 26:30, Mrk.13:22 14:35, Rom.12:18, Gal.4:15; τὸ δ. (= ἡ δύναμις) αὐτοῦ, Rom.9:22.† (AS)

divinelyθεῷtheōG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

toπρὸςprosG4314
to/with

πρός (pros) πρός, prep. with genitive, dative, accusative I. I. C. genitive, of motion from a place, from the side of, hence metaphorically, in the interests of, Act.27:34 (cf. Page, in l.). II. II. C. dative, of local proximity, hard by, near, at: Mrk.5:11, Luk.19:37, Jhn.18:16 20:11, 12 Rev.1:13. III. C. accusative, of motion or direction towards a place or object, to, towards. 1. Of place, …

[the] demolitionκαθαίρεσινkathairesinG2506
destruction

καθαίρεσις (kathairesis) καθ-αίρεσις, -εως, ἡ (καθαιρέω), [in LXX: Exo.23:24 (הָרַס), 1Ma.3:43 * ;] a pulling down, destruction: figuratively, κ. ὀχυρωμάτων, 2Co.10:4; opposite to οἰκοδομή, 2Co.10:8 13:10.† (AS)

of strongholds,ὀχυρωμάτων,ochurōmatōnG3794
stronghold

ὀχύρωμα (ochurōma) ὀχύρωμα, -τος, τό (ὀχυρόω, to fortify, make firm), [in LXX for מִבְצָר, etc. ;] a stronghold, fortress (Psa.89:40, Nam.3:12, 14 al.); in LXX and NT, also metaphorically of that in which confidence is placed (Pro.10:29 21:22, al.): 2Co.10:4.† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.