2 Corinthians 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
Verses 3-6 form one complex sentence. The “flesh” (sarx) in Paul’s writing is a significant word full of meaning and implications. It is used in a negative nuance in most occurrences. The flesh represents living as if this world is all that matters. It is dominated by self-preservation and survival, often putting the needs of oneself ahead of others. Because of the power of sin within us, the flesh becomes a tool for sin and an opportunity for us to exert ourselves against God’s commands. The flesh wages war against God’s desires for us. Thus, Paul speaks of living by the flesh or living by the Spirit in Romans 8 and Galatians 5.
Walking according to the flesh shows direction and intent of a person. Walking is a metaphor for lifestyle and worldview that influences our choices. Walking according to the flesh often leads to problems and can even result in self-destruction. Many problems in people’s lives result from living without reference to God in an effort to please our own desires. Lust is one of the major causes of fleshly living, but there are many other “acts of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21). Most of these may please some distorted instinct we have, but eventually, they always lead to problems. Anytime we go against God’s essential law of unconditional, selfless love as seen in Jesus Christ, we will struggle and even hurt ourselves or others.
Paul expresses v. 3 in a concessive participial clause. The first part is simply in reference to being human: we all walk in the flesh. As long as we are in this physical body, we will have to deal with the temptations of the flesh. But our battle is not with the human body, like the Gnostics believed, but is on a spiritual level. We are in a spiritual battle, which Paul describes in Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Ephesians 6:11-17 also describes the “weapons of our warfare” that enable believers to destroy “strongholds.” These strongholds are fortresses that keep people from believing the gospel. These might be ignorance, being deceived by false teaching, or intentional rebellion against God and the gospel. The key stronghold of this passage will be the empty arguments, sophistry, and speculation. The truth is the most powerful weapon, and the truth is most clearly given in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The false apostles that had infiltrated the Corinthian church were preaching a false version of the gospel. The best tool against heresy, even however small the distortion may be, is to know the truth of the gospel well. The primary source of truth for us is found in the Bible. Therefore, we must study and develop our skills and workers of the Word (2 Timothy 2:15).
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