“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds…” (2nd Corinthians 10:3-4)
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Is Paul Calling Believers to Fight Demons? - How often we hear this passage invoked to mean we are to do battle with demons and demonic forces, using our spiritual might to tear down the strongholds of demons, and to fight the demons themselves!
There are several problems with this viewpoint, including the following:
1. It seems the “we” in the passage refers to Paul and his colleagues in the ministry, not to “we” as in all Christians everywhere. See for example v.11, 14 & 16, where clarifying distinctions are drawn between “we” meaning Paul and his colleagues and “you” meaning the Corinthian believers. In this section of the letter, and indeed the entire letter, Paul seeks to re-establish himself and his ministry (including that of his colleagues) with the Corinthians, who have entertained false “outside” teachers who have brought in ideas which are outside the true faith. Hence “we” and “you.”
In other words, Paul is neither saying (1) that “we” – as in you and me and all who ever read these passages – are “demolishing strongholds,” nor that (2) anyone here is demolishing demons.
2. Nothing in the entire chapter or section addresses the topic of demons or demonic forces. 2nd Corinthians is simply not about that subject. The entire letter from chapters 1 through 13 is devoid of any discourses or even any references (at least that I can think of) to demons or demonic forces. Paul had a lot to say to the Corinthians in both of his letters, but not much if anything concerning “spiritual warfare” with demons.
3. “Strongholds” means what Paul intended, not what we tend to leap to in terms of an interpretation from nowhere. The word is not used, I don’t believe, anywhere else in the NT, so we cannot draw demonic meaning from other complimentary text, and as mentioned, the context does not support it. The term “stronghold” has been spiritualized (demonized) so much and so commonly for so long that we assume it is about demons.
4. Finally, the interpretation of the phrase “demolish strongholds” is given to us by Paul in v.5, immediately following its use in v.4:
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (v.5)
In view of the above, it seems clear that Paul is emphasizing the importance of refuting false teaching, false philosophies, and false attitudes which foster wrong doctrines and theologies which the purveyors of such things would like to (falsely) call “Christian.” Paul was interested in teaching and preserving truth, and in exhorting believers to hold fast to correct and faithful teaching. For us to convert Paul’s words (and God’s) into a mandate to abandon the meaning and construct of the Scriptures and go toe to toe with demons is to twist Paul’s teaching and to miss the point; it bends this section of scripture out of shape.
Now it seems true that such “strongholds” of false arguments, false pretensions and false attitudes could very well be instigated by demonic forces, and they could be places where dark spiritual forces could establish a beachhead. However possible these things may be, it is apparently not the direct meaning or focus of the passage. A more direct application would be that we should value truth very highly, to the point of diligently seeking it out through correct Biblical teaching and understanding, and we should by the same token make sure we refute (demolish, tear down) all kinds of wrong-headed teaching falsely labeled “Christian.”
This kind of “demolishing strongholds” - the kind Paul describes - requires diligent study of the Scriptures, holding fast to the key and fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. It entails working together to spot and then to refute false teaching and misdirection which results from “every pretension” that “sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” It uses tools which have been created for the purpose: creeds, confessions, catechisms, commentaries (good ones, not novel ones), expository Bible teaching and preaching, good Biblical scholarship, faithful seminaries and Bible schools, and sober reflection by the Church on any new or unusual idea brought in by any glitzy “ministry.”
Ironically, much of the modern Church diminishes and discounts the importance of Bible study, doctrinal and theological understanding, and defending correct Christian doctrine, while emphasizing and elevating personal and corporate battles with demons. This is ironic, because what Paul insinuates here is that these things which we so often de-emphasized ARE the very things by which the Church is made safe by eliminating “strongholds,” by which demonic entities could establish home base!
The Apostle Paul - If the Apostle Paul was such a staunch proponent of tearing down strongholds of false doctrine, false theology, false philosophy, etc., then we might well take a look at him to see what placed him in position to take this stance in formation of the early Church, as he was called to do so by the Spirit of Christ. It is rather obvious that Paul was wonderfully equipped for the work to which God called him.
What was Paul’s preparation? What did it look like, and can we glean anything valuable from it?
God prepared Paul specifically for his crucial assignment to the original Great Commission – proclaiming the Gospel of Christ and making disciples throughout the Empire.
A rigorously trained scholar and an experienced Pharisee and son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), Paul was schooled by the renowned Gamaliel, a doctor of Jewish law, scripture, and history and one of the greatest teachers in the annals of Judaism (Acts 5:24, 22:3). Paul grasped the many philosophies and worldviews of the Greco-Roman world, including numerous Greek philosophical schools, the Roman mindset, Hebrew theology and rabbinical traditions, and much more. Thus, he was prepared to take on those in the culture - from Jews to pagans – who would seek to refute, deny or pervert the Gospel.
The Apostle Paul was a Roman citizen raised in the notable city of Tarsus in Cilicia, on the Eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, just a ways north of Palestine. Raised and trained in a heavily Hellenized (Greek) and Roman environment in which education was held in great importance, Paul was fluent in both common and formal Greek as well as the Aramaic and Hebrew languages. Educated in history, Greek and Hebrew poetry and prose, as well as Jewish law, Paul was well equipped to mentor Titus, Timothy, Silas, and others, who in turn trained many to lead and to serve in the early Church.
Paul put his comprehensive education and training to constant, productive, Kingdom use. He dealt expertly and authoritatively within the heavily mixed, pluralistic culture of Corinth. He interacted masterfully with the philosophers of Athens, sharing with them the “unknown God” (Acts 17:23) and the Gospel of Christ on their own philosophical and intellectual turf. Paul’s letter to the Romans is a theological masterpiece. We see throughout his letters the tenacious defense of the pure gospel of Christ against heretical teachers and doctrines (2nd Cor. 11, Letter to the Galatians, etc.). We note his confident dealings with synagogue Jews, and of course, in the process of all this Paul wrote much of the New Testament.
In short, Paul was “all about” the Great Commission, and he did not simply “show up” with no training or preparation. The Holy Spirit did not do a magic trick and suddenly equip Paul – rather Paul’s equipping was a life-long endeavor, and it was a matter of his ongoing lifestyle. So when it came to Paul’s calling to be the evangelist and teacher of the Gentiles, his complete self, background, knowledge and passion were devoted to it, and not even his own life, possessions, comfort or safety were allowed to get in the way. God equipped Paul for all these works of ministry, and Paul cooperated in the process by dedicating himself to become equipped, and then deploying his skills without reservation.
Concerning Paul’s reference in v.5 to “the knowledge of God,” one commentator put it this way:
“…Paul is speaking of the battle for the minds of people who are captive to lies that are exalted in opposition to Scripture. Paul knew these fortresses well, having lived most of his life before his conversion in one of them. However, on the Damascus Road, his vaunted fortress crumbled under God’s power, and he was led captive to the Lord Jesus Christ…” (“Demolishing Strongholds,” October 16, 2011; http://www.fbcw.org/am_cms_media/fbcw101611am.pdf )
What about Us? - We can understand and apply these principles of preparation in our own circumstances in at least four ways:
First, most of Paul’s training and equipping came before he was converted, reminding us that God began equipping every one of us before conversion, and before any decision to begin living for Christ. God is well able to use even the things of our prior, lost lives to serve Him and His Kingdom, for He is the Great Equipper who knows the end from the beginning and who is able to design the perfect curriculum. We can and should take a look at our lives even before we were converted, to discern where God was training and teaching us. If we do this, we are likely to find some surprises.
Second, as disciples of Christ we pursue ongoing, continual training and development in the knowledge of God which comes primarily through the word of God. This lifestyle of continuous equipping is to be approached with zeal and passion.
As disciples, we are to be eager students. As we gain a sense of the direction in which the Lord is moving us and calling us, we can move in proactive, cooperative, continuing preparation for that service, whatever its scope. We need not settle for a passive, uninvolved role in our own equipping. We should not suppose that passivity and lethargy are somehow more spiritual than proactive learning and preparing. To place this in very practical terms, when there is a Bible study or a course available, we should seize the opportunity. Wherever we need to grow in the knowledge of God, we can seek out resources and opportunities to learn and grow.
Third, we need never apologize for the work God has given us to do, or for the testimony of His gospel. We need not repackage it, perfume it, filter the offense out of it, or pander to those who don’t care for it. If we engage in these things, we can easily compromise the message of the Gospel, inviting the very sorts of strongholds Paul warned the Corinthians about. We are to share the true Gospel, not some watered down, filtered, rationalized, altered, over-accommodated counterfeit, and we are to make disciples, which is to say we are to teach and defend the true doctrines of the faith. In order to share these things, we must know them to start with.
Fourth, in view of the points just discussed, we must maintain a conscious awareness and appreciation for the fact that all who are involved in the Great Commission are not “equal” in the sense that all are not equally equipped for every aspect of making disciples and teaching them to obey everything Christ commands – including holding fast to authentic truth and essential Christian doctrine and worldview. This is not to create some sort of Christian caste system, but to embrace the wonderful fact that the Church has been given teachers and protectors and shepherds, whose collective job it is to demolish strongholds and to equip believers to step up into their respective callings and commissions.
On the other hand, let us not fall into the trap of vesting and compartmentalizing all Biblical learning, study, and responsibility for these things in those who bear the role of “teacher” or “pastor.” Yes, they have a specific role in the Church, but holding faithfully to proper truth and doctrine as we grow in Christ and lead others in His direction is every believer’s responsibility.
Every one of us can “demolish strongholds.” It does not necessarily require us to engage mystical warfare with demonic hordes. It takes some work and some diligence, along with an inquisitive and acquisitive attitude which is conducive to learning and holding to the truth of Scripture and to the important doctrines of the faith.
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