Verse 4
4. A confutation of those who try to propagate their creed by force and persecution (compare :-).
weapons—for punishing offending members (2 Corinthians 10:6; 1 Corinthians 4:21; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 5:13); boldness of speech, ecclesiastical discipline (2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 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 2 Corinthians 10:2; 2 Corinthians 10:3.
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 (2 Corinthians 10:3- :, Margin). Also above (2 Corinthians 10:3- :), "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 2 Corinthians 10:3- :, translate, "casting down." Compare 2 Corinthians 10:3- :: the inspired servants of God inherit the commission of the Old Testament prophets.
strongholds— (2 Corinthians 10:3- :); 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.
Be the first to react on this!