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2 Corinthians 10:4

The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:4 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,
  • KJV (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
  • NKJV For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
  • NASB for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
  • NLT We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The weapons of Christian warfare are not worldly but divinely powerful to demolish strongholds. God's truth, not human cleverness, overthrows entrenched opposition.

Overview

Paul describes the spiritual armory of gospel ministry: the Word, prayer, and the power of God. These are mighty to tear down 'strongholds,' the fortified resistance of false ideas and pride. The image assures believers that God's appointed means, though humble-looking, accomplish what human force never could.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 26

  • 2 Cor 6:7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
  • Eph 6:13–18Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
  • Jer 1:10See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”
  • 1 Cor 2:5so that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
  • 1 Sam 17:45–50But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
  • 2 Cor 13:3–4since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
  • 1 Tim 1:18Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
  • Zech 4:6–7So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.
  • Rom 13:12The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
  • 1 Th 5:8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.
  • 2 Cor 4:7Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
  • Rom 6:13Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
  • Ps 110:2The LORD extends Your mighty scepter from Zion: “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
  • 2 Cor 3:5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
  • Heb 11:30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
  • Isa 41:14–16Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
  • 2 Tim 2:3Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
  • Josh 6:20So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it.
  • Acts 7:22So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
  • Heb 11:32–33And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
  • Judg 15:14–16When Samson arrived in Lehi, the Philistines came out shouting against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and the bonds broke loose from his hands.
  • Isa 30:25And from every high mountain and every raised hill, streams of water will flow in the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall.
  • Judg 7:13–23And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.”
  • 1 Cor 1:18–24For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
  • 2 Cor 13:10This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
  • 1 Cor 9:7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?

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Christ at the center

In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.

How 2 Corinthians 10:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

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