2 Corinthians 10:3
in 2 Corinthians 10For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh
KJV
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 10
Commentary
15 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For though we walk in the flesh - Though we are mortal like other people; though we dwell like them in mortal bodies, and necessarily must devote some care to our temporal needs; and though, being in the flesh, we are conscious of imperfections and frailties like others. The sense is, that he did not claim exemption from the common needs and frailties of nature. The best of people are subject to these needs and frailties; the best of people are liable to err.
This site's exposition
we do not war after the flesh
on 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds: the flesh here names ordinary human existence in verse 3 and fallen method in verse 4, and the bench keeps the distinction sharp, since Paul does not deny he lives in a body but denies that his ministry fights with the world's tools of rhetoric, intimidation, or political maneuver. Strong holds, ochyromata, a military term for fortifications, sets the register for the whole passage as spiritual warfare, mighty through God rather than through eloquence, and the exposition holds the phrase in that register rather than moralizing it into a general call to willpower.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the demolition of fortifications, demolishing thoughts, and every high thing which exalteth itself against the knowledge of Christ." Equipped with these weapons, the Gnostic says: O Lord, give opportunity, and receive demonstration; let this dread event pass; I contemn dangers for the love I bear to Thee.
This means that although we are living in the body we act in a spiritual way. Anyone who does what is pleasing to God is acting spiritually.
A commentator
Philoxenus of Mabbug13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 5 -- Second Discourse on Simplicity · Written before 523.
proposed
The rule and conduct of the life here is the similitude of that of spiritual beings, and the dwelling here is a type of that of heavenly beings. The conversation of you who are clothed with the body is a copy of that of those …
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 337 · Written before 458.
proposed
Although we are surrounded by the world, we do not give in to it.
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh." Here he goes on to alarm them also by the figure he uses, 'for,' says he, 'we are indeed encompassed with flesh; I own it, but we do not live by the flesh;' or rather, he said not even this, but for the present reserves it, for it belongs to the encomium on his life: but first discourseth of the Preaching, and shows that it is not of man, nor needeth aid from beneath. Wherefore he said not, 'we do not live according to the flesh,' but, "we do not war according to the flesh," that is, 'we have undertaken a war and a combat; but we do not war with carnal weapons, nor by help of any human succors.'
8 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
"I said, Ye are Gods; and all sons of the Highest." To whom speaks the Lord? To those who reject as far as possible all that is of man. And the apostle says, "For ye are not any longer in the flesh, but in the Spirit." And again he says, "Though in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh." "For flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." "Lo, ye shall die like men," the Spirit has said, confuting us.
The Medieval Church2 voices
That is, although we are clothed in flesh, we do not use carnal weapons. He reasons about preaching, showing that it is not a human affair and has no need of earthly help. And when he says "we wage war," he conveys this thought: we …
But this reason is null and void; therefore, he destroys it, saying: For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a worldly war [according to the flesh]. As if to say: we cannot deny that we are in the flesh, because …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
After the flesh - By any carnal or worldly methods. Though the apostle here, and in several other parts of this epistle, speaks in the plural number, for the sake of modesty and decency, yet he principally means himself. On him were these reflections thrown, and it is his own authority which he is vindicating.
He then proceeds to reason the case with the Corinthians, asserting his relation to Christ, and his authority as an apostle of Christ (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
For though we walk in the flesh,....
This indeed is through God, or owing to him, because they are his institutions, and accompanied with his blessing, which makes all opposition to fall before his victorious gospel. We may here observe, [1.] What opposition is made against the gospel by the powers of sin and Satan in the hearts of men.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Though we walk in the flesh - That is: Although I am in the common condition of human nature, and must live as a human being, yet I do not war after the flesh - I do not act the coward or the poltroon, as they insinuate. I have a good cause, a good captain, strength at will, and courage at hand. I neither fear them nor their master.
The words behind it
8 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐν | en | In | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| σαρκὶ | sarki | flesh | G4561 → | 146 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| περιπατοῦντες | peripatountes | walking | G4043 → | 94 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| σάρκα | sarka | flesh | G4561 → | 146 times |
| στρατευόμεθα, | strateuometha | do we wage war, | G4754 → |
ἐνIn
enG1722 →2738 times
σαρκὶflesh
sarkiG4561 →146 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
περιπατοῦντεςwalking
peripatountesG4043 →94 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
σάρκαflesh
sarkaG4561 →146 times
στρατευόμεθα,do we wage war,
strateuomethaG4754 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved…
it leads to
- Galatians 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- 2 Corinthians 5:15
And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
- Romans 6:4–6
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of…
- Colossians 3:3–4
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
- 2 Corinthians 4:10–11
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- Galatians 5:24
Through
2 Corinthians 10:4The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 6:7
in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
- Ephesians 6:13–18
Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
- Jeremiah 1:10
See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 4; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 2; John Chrysostom, Homilies on Second Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 21 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Philoxenus of Mabbug, 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 5 -- Second Discourse on Simplicity; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 337; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.