(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Confutation of those who propagate their creed by persecution (cf. Luke 9:54-56).
Carnal. Translate, 'fleshly,' to preserve the allusion to 2 Corinthians 10:2-3, Weapons - for punishing not those without, but offenders in the Church (2 Corinthians 10:6; 1 Corinthians 4:21; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 5:13); namely, boldness of speech, ecclesiastical discipline (2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 13:10), the Word, the sacraments, and the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit.
Mighty through God - Greek, 'mighty to God;' i:e., before God: divinely mighty. The power is not ours, but God's. Compare 'fair to God' - i:e., divinely fair (margin, Acts 7:20). Also 2 Corinthians 2:15. 'The efficacy of Christianity proves its truth' (Bengel) (2 Timothy 1:7).
Pulling down, х kathairesin (G2506)]. The Greek is the same as 2 Corinthians 10:5, "casting down." Compare Jeremiah 1:10.
Strongholds (Proverbs 21:22) - namely, in which sinners entrench themselves against reproof: all that opposes Christ; the learning, eloquence, and philosophical subtleties, the pride of the Corinthians. So Joshua's trumpet-blast cast down Jericho's walls.
("We," 2 Corinthians 10:3)