Demolishing Strongholds
8/7/25 Bible Thought (2 Corinthians 10)
While we are natural human beings who live what are oftentimes very ordinary lives, there is so much more to life than meets the eye.
One of the underlying themes in 2 Corinthians is the apostle Paul’s defense of his own apostleship. In the next chapter, he will refer to “super-apostles” (2 Cor. 11:5) who were amongst those who criticized him and tried to undermine his authority in the Corinthian church.
These problem people had accused Paul of “walking according to the flesh” (2 Cor. 10:2).
Perhaps, it was a criticism of Paul’s weakness. He was clearly human and underwent all kinds of suffering. Or perhaps, they believed they were more spiritual than Paul and that he wasn’t spiritual enough to be classified as an apostle.
In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul admits that yes as an apostle he does walk in the flesh.
Like everyone else, he is subjected to humanity and its frailties and limitations. As we saw earlier, human beings are merely ordinary clay jars within which God places His magnificent treasure (2 Cor. 4:7).
Yet, they shouldn’t be deceived. Though Paul lived in many regards as a regular human being does, he likewise concluded, “we are not waging war according to the flesh” (2 Cor. 10:3).
He explains:
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete” (2 Cor. 10:4-6).
His ministry might seem natural and plain at times—but truly apostolic work was spiritual.
In fact, gospel ministry is exercised through divine power (2 Cor. 10:4) that is used to tear down strongholds.
Scholar, Colin Kruse, states,
“The arguments Paul destroys are the ‘strongholds’ in which people fortify themselves against the invasion of the knowledge of God (the gospel).”[1]
This is a spiritual thing, for the believer has a spiritual adversary.
As Paul earlier pointed out concerning those whose eyes are veiled to the gospel:
“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4).
So, while much of this life seems to be merely natural, there is an entire realm of spiritual existence that we oftentimes forget about!
The believer in Jesus has a spiritual adversary who goes about as a roaring lion, seeking to devour (1 Pet. 5:8) and who is presently at work in the sons of disobedience (Eph. 2:2).
Let us never forget that being a part of God’s kingdom means we are part of His army. We’re involved in a war that is oftentimes unseen.
In the first century, Paul dealt with imposter apostles that were agents of Satan seeking to undo his work.
Even today we face all manner of challenges to the gospel that are spiritual in nature, although they might hide behind natural people.
Yet, we can be encouraged.
People will set up their arguments and lofty opinions (2 Cor. 10:5) against the knowledge of God as protective walls to secure themselves in their disbelief. However, the work of the gospel of Christ, empowered by the Spirit of God—divine weapons—can bust through any fortress and take every rebel thought as a war captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).
There is no fortress that is impregnable before the Lord of heaven and earth.
This life might look natural, and even boring at times, but God is at work in and through His people to accomplish His will and build His Kingdom in the earth today. What an amazing thing to be a part of!
[1] Colin G. Kruse, 2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 8 of Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 170.