The Greek text followed by Good News Translation includes the words We destroy arguments at the end of verse 4 rather than at the beginning of verse 5. While either verse division is possible, translators should probably follow the most widely used major language translation in their area. These words continue the military imagery and may be translated as “we demolish” (Anchor Bible) arguments or “put an end to arguments.” The word translated arguments is more literally “reasoning.” It has been rendered “theories” (Moffatt), “sophistries” (Revised English Bible), and “ideas” (New Jerusalem Bible).

As the contrast with your at the end of verse 6 indicates, the pronoun we does not include the readers.

Every proud obstacle to continues the military imagery. Anchor Bible says “every great height raised up in opposition to.” Paul apparently had in mind the high bulwarks that were built up to protect a city from attack. In some languages the adjective proud does not naturally fit with a noun like obstacle, so a more literal rendering of “great height” or “high thing” may be appropriate.

The knowledge of God is not knowledge that God has but rather human knowledge about God. The knowledge of God may be thought of as a synonym for “the gospel.” Note, however, that Contemporary English Version translates “every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God.”

Paul does not explicitly state whose thoughts are to be taken captive, but the meaning is that the thoughts of those who were opposed to Christ will be taken captive.

To obey Christ is literally “unto the obedience of Christ.” It may not be acceptable in a given language to make the noun thought the direct object of the verb “take captive” or the subject of the verb “obey.” In this context the idea is that people will come to obey Christ in the way that they think. In order to maintain the imagery of the military, it may be wise to use a simile in some languages. One may say something like “the thoughts of people are like enemies that we capture. We take every one of them prisoner and make them obey Christ.”

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 .