2 Corinthians 10:3-5

10:3 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.

[10:3]  ¹ tn Grk “we walk.”

[10:3]  ² tn Grk “in the flesh.”

[10:3]  ³ tn Grk “according to the flesh.”

[10:4]  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.

[10:4]  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.”

[10:4]  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.

[10:4]  ⁷ tn Or “speculations.”

[10:5]  ⁸ tn The phrase “every arrogant obstacle” could be translated simply “all arrogance” (so L&N 88.207).

[10:5]  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.”