Post by johann21 on Jul 5, 2023 8:38:31 GMT -8
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 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;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
"war" This is the term strateuō, from which we get the English term strategy. It was used of a soldier (cf. 1 Cor. 9:7; 2 Tim. 2:4) or metaphorically of a spiritual battle (cf. here and 1 Tim. 1:18). There is an ongoing conflict in the spiritual realm.
10:4-5 There is a series of things mentioned in 2 Cor. 10:4-5 which Paul attacks.
destruction of fortresses (ochurōma)
destruction of speculation (logizomai)
destruction of every lofty thing (huphōma)
taking captive every thought (noēma)
These things possibly refer to the Sophists' rhetoric, which Paul had depreciated in 1 Corinthians 1-4 (cf. Bruce W. Winter, Philo and Paul Among the Sophists, pp. 180-202).
10:4 "the weapons of our warfare" Paul has alluded to this spiritual warfare earlier in 2 Cor. 6:7. The book of Romans was written from Corinth about this same time. He also mentions this warfare in Rom. 6:13 and 13:12. Peter uses the verb form in 1 Pet. 4:1, where he encourages believers to arm themselves in their fleshly struggles.
A good resource book in this area is Three Crucial Questions About Spiritual Warfare by Clinton E. Arnold, published by Baker.
- "for the destruction of fortresses" This may be an allusion to Pro. 21:22 (larger context 2 Cor. 10:13-31). There has been much discussion about the meaning of this phrase among commentators, but it is obvious that 2 Cor. 10:5 is a description of what spiritual fortresses Paul is referring to. It appears he is addressing the false theology of the false teachers.
10:5
NASB "destroying speculations"
NKJV "casting down arguments"
NRSV "destroy arguments"
TEV "pull down"
NJB "It is ideas that we demolish"
REB "demolish sophistries"
Peshitta "casting down imaginations"
See note at 2 Cor. 3:5.
NASB "and every lofty thing"
NKJV "and every high thing"
NRSV "and every proud obstacle"
TEV "every proud obstacle"
NJB "every presumptuous notion
This is the word for "height" used in the sense of lofty, human thinking. This reflects the false teachers' over-emphasis on
knowledge and human reasoning (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18-25; Col. 2:8)
legalism (cf. Col. 2:16-23)
- "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" The VERB is a compound of "spear" and "to capture in battle." These false teachers were capturing the thought and minds of the Corinthian believers. Paul would have us "renew our minds" (cf. Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23); protect our minds (cf. Phil. 4:7). Salvation is free, but the Christian life is characterized by obedience, service, worship, and perseverance. These are covenant responsibilities. There is an ongoing spiritual conflict!
Paul uses the word "thought" (noēma) often in 2 Corinthians (cf. 2 Cor. 2:11; 3:14; 4:4; 11:3), but only one other time, in Phil. 4:7. The Corinthian over-emphasis on knowledge may have been the reason for his recurrent use of the term. The Analytical Greek Lexicon Revised, Harold K. Moulton, ed., lists several connotations (p. 280).
the mind, the understanding, intellect ‒ 2 Cor. 3:14; 4:4
the heart, soul, affections, feelings, disposition ‒ 2 Cor. 11:3
a conception of the mind, thought, purpose, device ‒ 2 Cor. 2:11; 10:5
10:6 Paul warns the false teachers and their followers that their day of reckoning is coming. They accused him of being weak, but they simply misunderstood his patience with them
for Christ's sake
for the corporate health of this church
Paul is warning this church to deal with its problems before he arrives or else he will deal with them (cf. 1 Cor. 5:3-5).
SPIRITUAL WARFARE (from Eph. 6:10-24)
A. The Christian life is a spiritual struggle (cf. Romans 7). Problems, suffering, and persecution are not abnormal, but normal, for Christians in a fallen world (cf. Matt. 5:10; Acts 14:22; Rom. 5:3-4; 8:17-18; Phil. 1:29; 1 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 3:12; James 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:6-9; 2:11; 3:14; 4:12-17; 5:10; Rev. 11:7; 13:7).
B. The spiritual battle may be related contextually to the present passive imperative, "be filled with the Spirit," of Eph. 5:18 and the present passive (or middle, see note at Eph. 5:22) imperative "be made strong in the Lord," Eph. 6:10.
As the filling is related to daily Christlikeness (Col. 3:16) so too, is the spiritual battle. People are priority with God. The battleground is interpersonal relationships on a daily basis. Only people are eternal. Although these passives speak of God's power, the Christian must allow the Spirit to work in their lives. Covenant involves two parties, two choices.
C. We must be careful of two extremes: (1) Satan causes everything and (2) there is no personal evil. I assume, because of OT monotheism, that Satan is a created being and a controlled being (cf. 1 Kgs. 22:19-23; Job 1-2; Zech. 3:1-5). He is neither omnipresent, nor omniscient. Satan has been mentioned earlier in the letter in Eph. 2:2 and 4:14,27! He is only one of three enemies that Christians face daily—the world, Satan (and his), and the flesh (cf. Eph. 2:2-3; James 4).
D. God provides our spiritual armor and weapons, but believers must
1. recognize the daily spiritual battle
2. avail themselves, by faith, of God's resources
3. stand (cf. Eph. 6:11,13,14); spiritual maturity is not automatic, nor is it based on longevity, IQ (i.e., intelligence), or giftedness
E. I have always been told there is one offensive weapon for the believer, but I think there are two.
1. knowledge of the Word of God, Eph. 6:17
2. prayer, Eph. 6:18-19
F. Eph. 6:21-22 is almost identical to Col. 4:7-8. This is additional evidence of the close relationship between these two books. However, it is interesting that the entire discussion of spiritual warfare is omitted in Colossians. Each book has its own uniqueness.
We are in a constant war and Passivism is not to be found in Scriptures.
Shalom
J.
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 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;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
"war" This is the term strateuō, from which we get the English term strategy. It was used of a soldier (cf. 1 Cor. 9:7; 2 Tim. 2:4) or metaphorically of a spiritual battle (cf. here and 1 Tim. 1:18). There is an ongoing conflict in the spiritual realm.
10:4-5 There is a series of things mentioned in 2 Cor. 10:4-5 which Paul attacks.
destruction of fortresses (ochurōma)
destruction of speculation (logizomai)
destruction of every lofty thing (huphōma)
taking captive every thought (noēma)
These things possibly refer to the Sophists' rhetoric, which Paul had depreciated in 1 Corinthians 1-4 (cf. Bruce W. Winter, Philo and Paul Among the Sophists, pp. 180-202).
10:4 "the weapons of our warfare" Paul has alluded to this spiritual warfare earlier in 2 Cor. 6:7. The book of Romans was written from Corinth about this same time. He also mentions this warfare in Rom. 6:13 and 13:12. Peter uses the verb form in 1 Pet. 4:1, where he encourages believers to arm themselves in their fleshly struggles.
A good resource book in this area is Three Crucial Questions About Spiritual Warfare by Clinton E. Arnold, published by Baker.
- "for the destruction of fortresses" This may be an allusion to Pro. 21:22 (larger context 2 Cor. 10:13-31). There has been much discussion about the meaning of this phrase among commentators, but it is obvious that 2 Cor. 10:5 is a description of what spiritual fortresses Paul is referring to. It appears he is addressing the false theology of the false teachers.
10:5
NASB "destroying speculations"
NKJV "casting down arguments"
NRSV "destroy arguments"
TEV "pull down"
NJB "It is ideas that we demolish"
REB "demolish sophistries"
Peshitta "casting down imaginations"
See note at 2 Cor. 3:5.
NASB "and every lofty thing"
NKJV "and every high thing"
NRSV "and every proud obstacle"
TEV "every proud obstacle"
NJB "every presumptuous notion
This is the word for "height" used in the sense of lofty, human thinking. This reflects the false teachers' over-emphasis on
knowledge and human reasoning (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18-25; Col. 2:8)
legalism (cf. Col. 2:16-23)
- "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" The VERB is a compound of "spear" and "to capture in battle." These false teachers were capturing the thought and minds of the Corinthian believers. Paul would have us "renew our minds" (cf. Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23); protect our minds (cf. Phil. 4:7). Salvation is free, but the Christian life is characterized by obedience, service, worship, and perseverance. These are covenant responsibilities. There is an ongoing spiritual conflict!
Paul uses the word "thought" (noēma) often in 2 Corinthians (cf. 2 Cor. 2:11; 3:14; 4:4; 11:3), but only one other time, in Phil. 4:7. The Corinthian over-emphasis on knowledge may have been the reason for his recurrent use of the term. The Analytical Greek Lexicon Revised, Harold K. Moulton, ed., lists several connotations (p. 280).
the mind, the understanding, intellect ‒ 2 Cor. 3:14; 4:4
the heart, soul, affections, feelings, disposition ‒ 2 Cor. 11:3
a conception of the mind, thought, purpose, device ‒ 2 Cor. 2:11; 10:5
10:6 Paul warns the false teachers and their followers that their day of reckoning is coming. They accused him of being weak, but they simply misunderstood his patience with them
for Christ's sake
for the corporate health of this church
Paul is warning this church to deal with its problems before he arrives or else he will deal with them (cf. 1 Cor. 5:3-5).
SPIRITUAL WARFARE (from Eph. 6:10-24)
A. The Christian life is a spiritual struggle (cf. Romans 7). Problems, suffering, and persecution are not abnormal, but normal, for Christians in a fallen world (cf. Matt. 5:10; Acts 14:22; Rom. 5:3-4; 8:17-18; Phil. 1:29; 1 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 3:12; James 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:6-9; 2:11; 3:14; 4:12-17; 5:10; Rev. 11:7; 13:7).
B. The spiritual battle may be related contextually to the present passive imperative, "be filled with the Spirit," of Eph. 5:18 and the present passive (or middle, see note at Eph. 5:22) imperative "be made strong in the Lord," Eph. 6:10.
As the filling is related to daily Christlikeness (Col. 3:16) so too, is the spiritual battle. People are priority with God. The battleground is interpersonal relationships on a daily basis. Only people are eternal. Although these passives speak of God's power, the Christian must allow the Spirit to work in their lives. Covenant involves two parties, two choices.
C. We must be careful of two extremes: (1) Satan causes everything and (2) there is no personal evil. I assume, because of OT monotheism, that Satan is a created being and a controlled being (cf. 1 Kgs. 22:19-23; Job 1-2; Zech. 3:1-5). He is neither omnipresent, nor omniscient. Satan has been mentioned earlier in the letter in Eph. 2:2 and 4:14,27! He is only one of three enemies that Christians face daily—the world, Satan (and his), and the flesh (cf. Eph. 2:2-3; James 4).
D. God provides our spiritual armor and weapons, but believers must
1. recognize the daily spiritual battle
2. avail themselves, by faith, of God's resources
3. stand (cf. Eph. 6:11,13,14); spiritual maturity is not automatic, nor is it based on longevity, IQ (i.e., intelligence), or giftedness
E. I have always been told there is one offensive weapon for the believer, but I think there are two.
1. knowledge of the Word of God, Eph. 6:17
2. prayer, Eph. 6:18-19
F. Eph. 6:21-22 is almost identical to Col. 4:7-8. This is additional evidence of the close relationship between these two books. However, it is interesting that the entire discussion of spiritual warfare is omitted in Colossians. Each book has its own uniqueness.
We are in a constant war and Passivism is not to be found in Scriptures.
Shalom
J.