inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (2Cor. 10:4)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding the addressee).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (2 Corinthians 10:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 10:4:

  • Uma: “We(excl.), we (excl.) are just human. But when we (excl.) oppose people who reject us (excl.), we (excl.) oppose them with strength that is from God. Our(excl.) behavior is not like that of people who don’t know God, nor do we (excl.) only use the skills of mankind. We(excl.) use strength from God. We(excl.) can be compared to soldiers to knock-down the fortresses of the enemy. Its meaning, with strength from God” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “That is what we (excl.) use, expertise from God and the expertise given to us (excl.) is powerful (supernatural), therefore we (excl.) defeat even whatever opposes the true teaching.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “For the arguments, which is to say, weapons, which we use to fight against evil, they don’t come from people, but rather they are very powerful because they come from God. And as for these arguments, none of the arguments of the enemies of God can resist them, even though they are very strong.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because the weapons that we (excl.) use are not those that worldly people use but rather those that are very-powerful in God’s estimation, for they are capable of defeating those that oppose him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For this with-which- we (excl.) -contend/fight, (it’s) not like that-with-which-people here in the world -contend/fight, but rather it has God’s supernatural-power with-which-any surrounding-wall around his enemies -can-be-knocked-down. Through the strength of this supernatural-power of his we (excl.) can defeat the wrong reasoning of the minds/thinking of people,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I do not by myself hunt for how to make victorious God’s work which I do, because the person’s own words are not able to win. Therefore God strengthens me for the work I do for him so that it will conquer over evil.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 10:4

For: this indicates the logical continuation of Paul’s argument. In some cases it may be rendered “indeed….” But it is possible to leave the logical connection implicit.

On the pronoun we or our, see 2 Cor. 10.3.

The weapons … are not worldly is literally “the weapons … are not fleshly,” that is, not strictly human. On “flesh” see 2 Cor. 10.2 above.

Warfare translates a military term meaning “military campaign.” But it may have to be translated “struggle” or “battle” in some languages.

Divine power: that is, power from God.

To destroy strongholds is literally “for the demolition of strongholds” (Anchor Bible), or “fortresses.” This continues the use of military terminology. Where the idea of fortified military installations are unknown, it is reasonable to say “put an end to the strength of the enemy” or “tear down defenses that are difficult to destroy.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .