2 Corinthiërs 10:3

3 Want wandelende in het vlees, voeren wij den krijg niet naar het vlees;

2 Corinthiërs 10:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 10:3

For though we walk in the flesh
The apostle removes the calumny of walking after the flesh, by owning that they were in the flesh, in the body, in a state of imperfection, attended with many weaknesses and infirmities, and surrounded with a variety of afflictions and sorrows; in this sense they were, and lived and walked in the flesh; but then he denies the charge exhibited against them,

we do not war after the flesh:
every Christian's life is a warfare with Satan, and his principalities and powers, with the world, the men and lusts of it, and with the corruptions of their own hearts; and much more is the life of a minister of the Gospel, who is called forth to meet the adversary in the gate; to stand in the hottest place of the battle, and sustain the whole fire and artillery of the enemy; to fight the good fight of faith, endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ, and with the weapons he is furnished with to war a good warfare: which is not done "after the flesh"; in such a manner as the men of the world wage war with one another; or upon carnal principles; or with carnal selfish views; or in a weak way and manner; but in a spiritual way, with all simplicity and disinterested views, with great courage and intrepidity of mind.

2 Corinthiërs 10:3 In-Context

1 Voorts ik Paulus zelf bid u, door de zachtmoedigheid en goedertierenheid van Christus, die, tegenwoordig zijnde, wel gering ben onder u, maar afwezend stout ben tegen u;
2 Ik bid dan, dat ik, tegenwoordig zijnde, niet stout moge zijn met die vrijmoedigheid, waarmede ik geacht word stoutelijk gehandeld te hebben tegen sommigen, die ons achten, alsof wij naar het vlees wandelden.
3 Want wandelende in het vlees, voeren wij den krijg niet naar het vlees;
4 Want de wapenen van onzen krijg zijn niet vleselijk, maar krachtig door God, tot nederwerping der sterkten;
5 Dewijl wij de overleggingen ter nederwerpen, en alle hoogte, die zich verheft tegen de kennis van God, en alle gedachte gevangen leiden tot de gehoorzaamheid van Christus;
The Dutch Staten Vertaling translation is in the public domain.