The weapons I fight with are not the weapons the world uses. In fact, it is just the opposite. My weapons have the power of God to destroy the camps of the enemy.

我们争战的兵器本不是属血气的，乃是在神面前有能力，可以攻破坚固的营垒，

因为我们争战的兵器本不是属血气的，而是凭着上帝的能力，能够攻破坚固的营垒。我们攻破各样的计谋，

因为我们争战的兵器本不是属血气的，而是凭着神的能力，能够攻破坚固的营垒。我们攻破各样的计谋，

我们争战的兵器不是属血气的，乃是从上帝而来的能力，可以摧毁坚固的营垒，

因为我们作战所用的兵器，不是属于这世界的，而是在神面前有能力的，可以攻陷坚固的堡垒，

因为我们争战所用的兵器不是属肉体的，而是有属神的能力，可以拆毁堡垒——拆毁各样的心思，

我們爭戰的兵器本不是屬血氣的，乃是在神面前有能力，可以攻破堅固的營壘，

因為我們爭戰的兵器本不是屬血氣的，而是憑着上帝的能力，能夠攻破堅固的營壘。我們攻破各樣的計謀，

因為我們爭戰的兵器本不是屬血氣的，而是憑着神的能力，能夠攻破堅固的營壘。我們攻破各樣的計謀，

我們爭戰的兵器不是屬血氣的，乃是從上帝而來的能力，可以摧毀堅固的營壘，

因為我們作戰所用的兵器，不是屬於這世界的，而是在神面前有能力的，可以攻陷堅固的堡壘，

我們交戰的武器並不是屬肉體的，乃是有屬神之能力的；能夠攻倒堅固的營壘，

因為我們爭戰所用的兵器不是屬肉體的，而是有屬神的能力，可以拆毀堡壘——拆毀各樣的心思，

蓋我之戰具、非屬血氣、乃上帝視為有能、破諸堅壘、

蓋余用兵、非任血氣、乃託上帝有能、破諸堅壘、

蓋我儕之戰具、非屬血氣、乃賴天主、有力能破諸堅壘、

因吾人作戰之武器、非屬形而下者、顧賴主之力其效能則足以掃蕩一切險固之壁壘。

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

( for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds);

since the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments

( For the weapons of our warfare[ are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,

We speak the truth. We serve in the power of God. We hold the weapons of godliness in the right hand and in the left.

Today I am appointing you to speak to nations and kingdoms. I give you authority to pull them up by the roots and tear them down. I give you authority to destroy them and crush them. I give you authority to build them up and plant them.”

So put on all of God’s armor. Evil days will come. But you will be able to stand up to anything. And after you have done everything you can, you will still be standing.So remain strong in the faith. Put the belt of truth around your waist. Put the armor of godliness on your chest.Wear on your feet what will prepare you to tell the good news of peace.Also, pick up the shield of faith. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Put on the helmet of salvation. And take the sword of the Holy Spirit. The sword is God’s word.At all times, pray by the power of the Spirit. Pray all kinds of prayers. Be watchful, so that you can pray. Always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

My son Timothy, I am giving you this command. It is in keeping with the prophecies once made about you. By remembering them, you can fight the battle well.

You are asking me to prove that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you. He is powerful among you.It is true that Christ was nailed to the cross because he was weak. But Christ lives by God’s power. In the same way, we share his weakness. But by God’s power we will live with Christ as we serve you.

David said to Goliath,“ You are coming to fight against me with a sword, a spear and a javelin. But I’m coming against you in the name of the Lord who rules over all. He is the God of the armies of Israel. He’s the one you have dared to fight against.This day the Lord will give me the victory over you. I’ll strike you down. I’ll cut your head off. This day I’ll feed the bodies of the Philistine army to the birds and wild animals. Then the whole world will know there is a God in Israel.The Lord doesn’t rescue people by using a sword or a spear. And everyone here will know it. The battle belongs to the Lord. He will hand all of you over to us.”As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet him.He reached into his bag. He took out a stone. He put it in his sling. He slung it at Goliath. The stone hit him on the forehead and sank into it. He fell to the ground on his face.So David won the fight against Goliath with a sling and a stone. He struck down the Philistine and killed him. He did it without even using a sword.

This was so that your faith would be based on God’s power. Your faith would not be based on human wisdom.

Treasure is kept in clay jars. In the same way, we have the treasure of the good news in these earthly bodies of ours. That shows that the mighty power of the good news comes from God. It doesn’t come from us.

So he said to me,“ A message from the Lord came to Zerubbabel. The Lord said,‘ Your strength will not get my temple rebuilt. Your power will not do it either. Only the power of my Spirit will do it,’ says the Lord who rules over all.“ So nothing can stop Zerubbabel from completing the temple. Even a mountain of problems will be smoothed out by him. When the temple is finished, he will put its most important stone in place. Then the people will shout,‘ God bless it! God bless it!’ ”

Don’t give any part of yourself to serve sin. Don’t let any part of yourself be used to do evil. Instead, give yourselves to God. You have been brought from death to life. So give every part of yourself to God to do what is right.

But we belong to the day. So let us control ourselves. Let us put on our chest the armor of faith and love. Let us put on the hope of salvation like a helmet.

The dark night of evil is nearly over. The day of Christ’s return is almost here. So let us get rid of the works of darkness that harm us. Let us do the works of light that protect us.

In ourselves we are not able to claim anything for ourselves. The power to do what we do comes from God.

Moses was taught all the knowledge of the people of Egypt. He became a powerful speaker and a man of action.

Samson approached Lehi. The Philistines came toward him shouting. Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on Samson. The ropes on his arms became like burned thread. They dropped off his hands.He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey. He grabbed it and struck down 1,000 men.Then Samson said,“ By using a donkey’s jawbone I’ve made them look like donkeys. By using a donkey’s jawbone I’ve struck down 1,000 men.”

Israel’s army had faith. So the walls of Jericho fell down. It happened after they had marched around the city for seven days.

The priests blew the trumpets. As soon as the army heard the sound, they gave a loud shout. Then the wall fell down. Everyone charged straight in. So they took the city.

What more can I say? I don’t have time to tell about all the others. I don’t have time to talk about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah. I don’t have time to tell about David and Samuel and the prophets.Because of their faith they took over kingdoms. They ruled fairly. They received the blessings God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions.

At that time the towers of your enemies will fall down. Their soldiers will die. Streams of water will flow on every high mountain and hill.

Family of Jacob, you are as weak as a worm. But do not be afraid. People of Israel, there are only a few of you. But do not be afraid. I myself will help you,” announces the Lord. He is the one who sets his people free. He is the Holy One of Israel.He says,“ I will make you into a threshing sled. It will be new and sharp. It will have many teeth. You will grind the mountains down and crush them. You will turn the hills into nothing but straw.You will toss them in the air. A strong wind will catch them and blow them away. You will be glad because I will make that happen. You will praise me. I am the Holy One of Israel.

Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend about his dream.“ I had a dream,” he was saying.“ A round loaf of barley bread came rolling into the camp of Midian. It hit a tent with great force. The tent turned over and fell down flat.”His friend replied,“ That can only be the sword of Gideon, the son of Joash. Gideon is from Israel. God has handed the Midianites over to him. He has given him the whole camp.”Gideon heard the man explain what the dream meant. Then Gideon bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel. He called out,“ Get up! The Lord has handed the Midianites over to you.”Gideon separated the 300 men into three fighting groups. He put a trumpet and an empty jar into the hands of each man. And he put a torch inside each jar.“ Watch me,” he told them.“ Do what I do. I’ll go to the edge of the enemy camp. Then do exactly as I do.I and everyone with me will blow our trumpets. Then blow your trumpets from your positions all around the camp. And shout the battle cry,‘ For the Lord and for Gideon!’ ”Gideon and the 100 men with him reached the edge of the enemy camp. It was about ten o’clock at night. It was just after the guard had been changed. Gideon and his men blew their trumpets. They broke the jars that were in their hands.The three fighting groups blew their trumpets. They smashed their jars. They held their torches in their left hands. They held in their right hands the trumpets they were going to blow. Then they shouted the battle cry,“ A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”Each man stayed in his position around the camp. But all the Midianites ran away in fear. They were crying out as they ran.When the 300 trumpets were blown, the Lord caused all the men in the enemy camp to start fighting one another. They attacked one another with their swords. The army ran away to Beth Shittah toward Zererah. They ran all the way to the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.Israelites from the tribes of Naphtali, Asher and all of Manasseh were called out. They chased the Midianites.

The Lord will make your royal authority spread out from Zion to other lands. He says,“ Rule over your enemies who are all around you.”

Like a good soldier of Christ Jesus, join with me in suffering.

That’s why I write these things before I come to you. Then when I do come, I won’t have to be hard on you when I use my authority. The Lord gave me the authority to build you up. He didn’t give it to me to tear you down.

Who serves as a soldier but doesn’t get paid? Who plants a vineyard but doesn’t eat any of its grapes? Who takes care of a flock but doesn’t drink any of the milk?

The message of the cross seems foolish to those who are lost and dying. But it is God’s power to us who are being saved.It is written,“ I will destroy the wisdom of those who are wise. I will do away with the cleverness of those who think they are so smart.”( Isaiah 29:14)Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where are the great thinkers of our time? Hasn’t God made the wisdom of the world foolish?God wisely planned that the world would not know him through its own wisdom. It pleased God to use the foolish things we preach to save those who believe.Jews require signs. Greeks look for wisdom.But we preach about Christ and his death on the cross. That is very hard for Jews to accept. And everyone else thinks it’s foolish.But there are those God has chosen, both Jews and Greeks. To them Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom.