The Greek noun kathairesis means pulling down, demolition, destruction, or bringing to nothing. It is the action-noun of kathairo (to pull down, to raze) and appears in military and metaphorical contexts.
Kathairesis appears three times in 2 Corinthians (10:4, 8; 13:10), each time in Paul's discussion of apostolic authority. In 10:4, Paul says the weapons of spiritual warfare 'have divine power to demolish strongholds' — pulling down false reasonings and every proud thing lifted against the knowledge of God. In 10:8 and 13:10, Paul insists that his authority is given 'for building up, not for tearing down.' The paradox of the gospel is that it must demolish to build: idols must fall before the temple of God can rise, strongholds of pride must be pulled down before the knowledge of Christ can advance. The church's warfare is not against flesh but against ideological fortresses.