Bible Studies
The Weapons of Our Warfare (2 Cor. 10:3-5)
Series: Additional StudiesIntroduction:
1. The Roman military was a formidable force. It dominated the world of the first century and infiltrated the life of every individual. 2. It could be ruthless in crushing an enemy. It subjected nation after nation as the Roman Emperors expanded the Empire. 3. Their tools were such things as swords, spears, catapults, and seige ramps, crude by our standards, but cutting edge technology in their day. 4. They were a military force feared by the world, but their wars and their weapons were fleshly in nature. 5. In this passage Paul speaks of a different kind of war and thus a different kind of weapon.Discussion:
I. Jesus too spoke of a different kind of kingdom; one that involved no military threat to Pilate (Jn. 18:33ff).A. Pilate had asked Jesus, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
B. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”
C. Additionally he said, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.”
D. When soldiers came to take Jesus away Peter had cut off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the High Priest, with his sword (Jn. 18:10). Jesus touched his ear and healed it (Lk. 22:51). The other disciples too were willing to strike with the sword, but Jesus stopped them. “Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels (7200)?” (Matt. 26:53-54).
E. What kind of battle is this that involves a weapon of healing rather than destruction? And a voluntary surrender to the suffering of the cross?
II. Paul describes the weapons of our warfare as “divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2 Cor. 10:4).A. Sometimes we distinguish between physical and spiritual forces.
1. We might be quick to draw such a distinction here.
a. Physical weapons we would associate with swords and the like.
b. We might not be too clear on our identification of spiritual weapons, but usually our contrast involves physical vs. spiritual.
2. But this is not the distinction that Paul makes here.
a. He distinguishes between weapons of fleshly nature and those that are divinely powerful.
b. Sometimes fleshly weapons are not physical at all.
c. Words, for example, are often used as very powerful fleshly weapons.
1) Adolph Hitler was known as a man who used words in a powerful way. It could be argued that he was the best and most effective public speaker of his generation. But he led people on a path of destruction unparalleled in modern history.
2) We too know how to use words as fleshly weapons of destruction (Col. 3:8-9).
3) We know the fleshly weapon of falsehood and deception (2 Pet. 2:1-3). We know that believing falsehoods can lead to spiritual death (2 Thess. 2:8-12).
B. The weapons of our warfare destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God (2 Cor. 10:5).
1. Paul has placed heavy emphasis on the communication that comes from God in his addresses to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 2; 2 Cor. 3).
2. Words received from God control the thinking so that “every thought is taken captive to the obedience of Christ.”
3. It is such spiritual weapons that must be used in our spiritual battle. It is a battle of the mind (Rom. 12:2).
4. But some of us do not understand the nature of the battle. We understand that it is spiritual in its nature. We would not try to use physical weapons in this war. But we attempt to fight using our own wisdom and our own thinking. We give minimal consideration to what God has revealed. “Well I think…”
5. Instead of listening to God’s message of turning the other cheek, of winning the spiritual battle with graciousness, we draw our fleshly weapons and proceed to fight on the devil’s side. All the while claiming that it is the grace of God that has saved us from destruction. If it is the grace of God that has been divinely powerful for our deliverance let us use it as divinely powerful in our work with others.
6. Jesus Christ has changed the world with the cross, not a sword.
a. Do you think such an approach would be effective in a marriage (Eph. 5:25)?
b. Do you think such an approach would be effective in parenting (Eph. 6:4)?
c. In a work relationship (Eph. 6:5ff)?
III. In Eph. 5:10ff Paul reflects further on the nature of the battle and the weapons we are to use.A. Our strength is in the Lord.
B. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces.
C. Fleshly weapons and fleshly methods are as ineffective as a knife in a nuclear war.
D. Weapons of our warfare—truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
E. In all this we must pray in recognition that our dependence is upon God and our power is in Him.
Conclusion:
1. Though we are in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh. 2. The weapons of our warfare are divinely powerful. 3. They destroy fortresses, speculations, and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God. 4. We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
