Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [2 Corinthians: Chapter 10].
agreeing with subject of \tharr•\ in spite of being in the
accusative infinitive clause, \to m• tharr•sai\) showing
courage." The example of humility in Christ makes Paul drop "from
magisterial exhortation to earnest entreaty" (Plummer). {As if we
walked according to the flesh} (\h•s kata sarka peripatountas\).
Another sneering charge as made plain by the use of \h•s\ with
the participle for the alleged reason.
10:3 {In the flesh} (\en sarki\). But that is a very different
thing from walking \kata sarka\ according to the standards of the
flesh as his enemies charged. It is easy enough to make
insinuations. {We war} (\strateuometha\). Literary plural again
after \logizomai\ in verse 2. Old word to lead an army
(\stratos\). In N.T. only in the middle as here. Paul admits that
he fights, but only the devil and his agents even if wearing the
livery of heaven. Paul knew the Roman army well. He knows how to
use the military metaphor.
10:4 {The weapons of our warfare} (\ta hopla t•s strateias\).
\Strateia\ (old word, in N.T. only here and 1Ti 1:18) is
{campaign} and not army as some MSS. have (\stratia\). But both
\strateia\ and \stratia\ occur in the papyri for the same word
(Deissmann, _Bible Studies_, p. 181f.). For \hopla\ (Latin
_arma_) see on ¯6:7; Rom 6:13; 13:12. {Of the flesh}
(\sarkika\). See on ¯1Co 3:3; 2Co 1:12. They had accused him of
artifices and craft. {Mighty before God} (\dunata t•i the•i\).
This dative of personal interest (ethical dative) can be like
\asteios t•i the•i\ (Ac 7:20), in God's eyes, as it looks to
God. {To the casting down of strongholds} (\pros kathairesin
ochur•mat•n\). \Kathairesis\ is old word from \kathaire•\, to
take down, to tear down walls and buildings. Carries on the
military metaphor. \Ochur•ma\ is old word, common in the
Apocrypha, from \ochuro•\, to fortify, and that from \ochuros\
(from \ech•\, to hold fast). Nowhere else in N.T. In Cilicia the
Romans had to tear down many rocky forts in their attacks on the
pirates.
10:5 {Casting down imaginations} (\logismous kathairountes\). The
same military figure (\kathairesis\) and the present active
participle agreeing with \strateuometha\ in verse 3 (verse 4
a parenthesis). The reasonings or imaginations (\logismous\, old
word from \logizomai\, to reckon, only here in N.T. and Ro
2:15) are treated as forts or citadels to be conquered. {Every
high thing that is exalted} (\pan hups•ma epairomenon\). Same
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