2 Corinthians 10:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.

NIV: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

NASB: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh,

CSB: For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh,

NLT: We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.

KJV: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

NKJV: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

Some in Corinth have said Paul is brave when writing letters far away but unconfident and timid when he is with them in person. The false teachers or false apostles who had come in among the Corinthians may have been more naturally impressive in person. In verse 10, Paul will quote these opponents as saying about him, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account." In the prior verse, Paul warned them not to mistake his Christlike meekness—which refers to strength under control—for weakness.

He says that though he and his friends walk in the flesh, he is not waging war according to the flesh. In saying this, Paul seems to be using a different meaning than we usually associate with this phrase, perhaps intentionally turning it around from the previous verse to make his point. Instead of meaning living in a "fleshly" way, driven by the body's sinful desires, Paul changes the phrase to mean living only according to the limited abilities of a human body. In this letter, he has already described his own limited body as wasting away (2 Corinthians 4:16). In other words, Paul does not see himself as physically strong or impressive.

In that sense, Paul writes, his opponents are right. He is limited by his "flesh," his body. He adds, though, a bit ominously, that he does not wage war according to the flesh. As he will clarify in the following verses, he and his co-workers see themselves as engaged in spiritual warfare, doing battle with spiritual weapons. In saying this, he is making clear to the Corinthians that he sees this disagreement with his opponents in Corinth as more than a mere political struggle over authority. It is nothing less than a spiritual war with eternal consequences.

Second Corinthians 10:1–18 contains Paul's response to charges against him from critics in Corinth. They claim that though his letters are potent, he is pathetic in person. Paul does not argue either point. However, he issues a stern warning: that he will arrive prepared for boldness in Christ in punishing every disobedience. He describes the conflict with the false apostles as a spiritual war. He and his associates plan to win that battle by capturing the thoughts of the Corinthians again so they will obey Christ. He will not boast to defend himself except in the Lord.

Critics and other opponents in Corinth argue that though Paul's letters are strong and weighty, he is unimpressive in person. In response, Paul warns the Corinthians not to make him show how bold he can be when he arrives. Paul and his partners fight for the truth about God and the gospel. They battle using spiritual weapons that destroy false arguments. He won't trade boasts with the false apostles, but will only boast in the Lord, who approves of him. The Corinthians should know that—they came to Christ as a result of Paul's ministry to them as an apostle.

Second Corinthians 10 continues the pattern of Paul's letter, as he deals with one topic after another in an orderly way. After concluding his comments about the contribution to the Christians in Jerusalem, Paul tackles a personal charge against him: that he is too unimpressive in person to be a true apostle of Christ. He insists he will follow through on the strong words in his letters when he comes to see them. He is fighting a spiritual war for the minds of the Corinthians and their obedience to Christ and will not stoop to the blatant self-promotion of the false apostles. This counter of false teachers continue into chapter 11.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.