2 Coríntios 10
Wayne Barber · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 10
Barber - Verse 2, “I ask that when I am present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.” You see, the critics of Paul knew nothing about waking in the Spirit. You have to remember this: if somebody is coming at you they know nothing about walking in the Spirit. They regarded Paul as if he walked according to the flesh just like they did. They would be only too pleased if Paul would get in their face and be bold and take them down. Boy, that’s strength, that’s what the pagan world thinks is strength. Get in their face, man, make them wilt. That’s a man there, that’s a man! Paul said to the Corinthians who desperately wanted to see him vindicated, they wanted to see him come out and get in the face of those who criticized him in a war to be vindicated and Paul says to them, “Don’t you dare push me into that situation. Don’t you make me have to step forward and be bold when I come among you with your intent of showing me off as to the fact that I could be what they said I couldn’t. Don’t push me in that kind of situation.” You say, “Why, Paul?” Well, Paul answers it. Because he says even though he lives in a body that is subject to that kind of behavior, just like he was before he got saved, he doesn’t war according to that behavior anymore. I don’t use those kinds of weapons anymore.” That’s not the way we deal with conflict and this is something for every one of us to learn. (Sermon) Barton gives an excellent explanation of 2Co 10:2 - Here Paul explained why he was writing this letter. He was hoping and praying that when he came, everything would be in order in the church (see 2Co 13:7). Paul had already said that he wasn't writing to condemn them (see 2Co 7:3). Instead, he was writing so that when he came to Corinth, he wouldn't have to be bold. Paul didn't want to spend his time disciplining the errant members of the Corinthian church when he could be building them up and encouraging them (see 2Co 13:10). This was the same reason that Paul had postponed his visit to Corinth in the first place (2Co 2:1-2). He wanted to give the Corinthians enough time to deal with the difficulties in their church on their own.Paul was acting like a wise and patient father, sensibly giving the Corinthians time and space to sort out what was right versus what was wrong, what was true versus what was false. Paul didn't leave them without guidance, however. He sent official representatives, such as Titus, with stern warnings (2Co 2:3-4). In the end, he wanted to give the Corinthians an opportunity to mature in the faith on their own. Second Corinthians was Paul's last warning to the church (see 2Co 13:1-5). Within short order, he was going to visit Corinth. Titus was traveling ahead to deliver this letter and prepare the Corinthians for Paul's visit (2Co 8:16-24). If the believers didn't resolve the disputes within their church (2Co 13:1) and punish those who persisted in sin (2Co 13:2) before Paul came, he would do it himself. Titus and the representatives from the Macedonian churches would act as witnesses to all that Paul would do (see 2Co 9:4). This verse also clearly identifies Paul's critics: some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. Apparently, Paul's opponents in Corinth were accusing him of making decisions and preaching according to worldly standards instead of God's holy standards. In the first chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul had already defended his recent travel plans from just such an accusation (see 2Co 1:17). (1 & 2 Corinthians Life Application Bible Commentary) Ask (beseech, request, pray) (1189) deomai from deo = to bind) means to ask for something with the sense of pleading, beseeching or begging. 2 Co. 5:20; 2 Co. 8:4; 2 Co. 10:2 Present (came, have come)(3918) pareimi from pará = near, with + eimí = to be) conveys the idea of a continually being beside another ("there were some present" - Lk 13:1-note, cp 1 Cor 5:3, 2 Cor 10:2,11, 11:9, 13:2, 10, Gal 4:18, 20). TDNT - General Meaning. 1. Presence. páreimi means “to be present” (persons or things), parousía denotes “active presence” (e.g., of representatives or troops, in person; cf. 2Cor. 10:10). Confidence (4006) pepoithesis from peitho = to persuade, come to a settled conviction) means full persuasion and expresses a belief in someone or something to the point of placing one's trust or reliance in them - the idea is having been persuaded and remaining persuaded. It is a belief that one can rely on someone or something. The nuance of meaning depends on the context - it can mean confidence or trust in others (2Co 1:15), in God (Ep 3:12) or in oneself (i.e., self-confidence) (2Co 10:12). Propose (3049) logizomai from lógos = reason, word, account) means to reckon, compute, calculate, to take into account, to deliberate, and to weigh. Logizomai refers to a process of careful study or reasoning which results in the arriving at a conclusion. Logizomai conveys the idea of calculating or estimating. Logizomai was a term frequently used in the business community of Paul's day and meant to impute (put to one's account) or credit to one's account. To be courageous (5111)(tolmao rom tólma = courage in turn from tlao = to sustain, support, endure) means to have courage, to be bold, to dare to do something. To be courageous enough to try or to do something. The idea is of being daring, of acting without fear regardless of the threats or consequences. Louw-Nida - "to be so bold as to challenge or defy possible danger or opposition." BDAG says tolmao means "to show boldness or resolution in the face of danger, opposition, or a problem." Matt. 22:46; Mk. 12:34; Mk. 15:43; Lk. 20:40; Jn. 21:12; Acts 5:13; Acts 7:32; Rom. 5:7; Rom. 15:18; 1 Co. 6:1; 2 Co. 10:2; 2 Co. 10:12; 2 Co. 11:21; Phil. 1:14; Jude 1:9 Walked (Behaved, Conducted) (4043) peripateo from peri = about, around + pateo = walk, tread) means literally to walk around (walk around in a complete circuit or full circle), to go here and there walking, to tread all around. The 39 uses in the Gospels always refer to literal, physical walking. Seven of the 8 uses in Acts are also in the literal sense (except Acts 21:21+). (See Spurgeon's comments on what it means to walk) Paul uses peripateo only in the metaphorical sense (32 times in his Epistles - see all the NT uses below) meaning to conduct one's life, to order one's behavior, to behave, to make one's way, to make due use of opportunities, to live or pass one’s life (with a connotation of spending some time in a place), to walk with God in the complete circuit (course) of faith. Uses in Corinthians -- 1 Co. 3:3; 1 Co. 7:17; 2 Co. 4:2; 2 Co. 5:7; 2 Co. 10:2; 2 Co. 10:3; 2 Co. 12:18; Flesh (4561) sarx is used 147 times in the NT (in table below click book title for uses of sarx). A simple definition of sarx is difficult because sarx has many nuances (e.g., some Greek lexicons list up to 11 definitions for sarx!). The diligent disciple must carefully observe the context of each use of sarx in order to accurately discern which nuance is intended. The range of meaning extends from the physical flesh (both human and animal), to the human body, to the entire person, and even to all humankind! STRONG'S Summarization = 1) flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts 2) the body 2a) the body of a man 2b) used of natural or physical origin, generation or relationship 2b1) born of natural generation 2c) the sensuous nature of man, "the animal nature" 2c1) without any suggestion of depravity 2c2) the animal nature with cravings which incite to sin 2c3) the physical nature of man as subject to suffering 3) a living creature (because possessed of a body of flesh) whether man or beast 4) the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God 2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, Greek: en sarki gar peripatountes (PAPMPN) ou kata sarka strateuometha (1PPMI) Plummer - True that it is in the world and in the flesh that we do think and act, but it is not on worldly and carnal principles that we conduct our campaign. Amplified: For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
2 Coríntios 10
Barber - Paul says even though he lives in a body that is subject to that kind of (FLESHLY) behavior, just like he was before he got saved, he doesn’t war according to that behavior anymore. I don’t use those kinds of weapons anymore.” That’s not the way we deal with conflict and this is something for every one of us to learn. Paul knew something that I wish we all understood in the 21st century about being a believer. When you’re in the midst of a conflict, the only confidence that is reliable is when you trust God, as you’ll see in the message today, only Him, only Him, only Him and never trust the flesh. Because the flesh brings that damage and division and factions to the body like nothing else. We’re in a war with our fleshly mindset and that mindset says, “Do things your way. Resolve the conflict your way, and according to the ways of the world.” Evidently we’re losing in that war. The pastors this year, they tell me there are more pastors resigning from the ministry because they’ve been chewed up, spit out by people than ever before. Churches are split everywhere. You could go to cities in the South: 800 and some churches, and 400 of them I think were split off from the others. You see Fellowship Baptist Church on this corner, Greater Fellowship than that Baptist Church, and then you see Boy, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet Baptist Church. That’s what you have because people in conflict choose to solve it their own way. They do it with the weapons of the flesh. They want to be vindicated as being right and that’s what Paul is saying is exactly wrong. That is not the way we deal with conflict. That’s what he says. The flesh has its weapons, get in your face, confront with boldness, even lie if you have to, but we don’t fall into that trap when we walk surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ....Weapons of the flesh, is that the way we’re going to deal with it? Or weapons of the Spirit? (Sermon) P E Hughes on in the flesh - Paul, however, though he does not walk “according to the flesh”, yet he does walk “in the flesh”, that is, in the element of flesh, living his life, like every other man, subject to the laws and limitations which are common to human flesh. While, therefore, in this context the expression “according to the flesh” has a distinctively ethical connotation, in the phrase “in the flesh” the term “flesh” is used in a neutral sense to denote the medium of man’s present corporeal existence; for the life lived by faith is still a life lived in the flesh (Gal. 2:20); it is in our mortal flesh that the victorious life of Jesus is manifested (2Co 4:11). In this latter sense the flesh is the equivalent of the frail earthen vessel which contains the divine glory (2Co 4:7), of our outward man which is decaying (2Co 4:16), and of the earthly house of our tabernacle which is dissolved in death (2Co 5:1). But for Paul to walk according to the flesh would have meant the contradiction at the very roots of his being of the power of the gospel which he preached and by which both he and the Corinthian converts had been saved and transformed. Herein lies the danger and the subtlety of the charge that had been made against him. The follower of Christ cannot allow his conduct to be controlled by the considerations of expediency and self-seeking which were characteristic of his unregenerate state, when he walked according to the flesh, not according to the Spirit (cf. Ro 8:4ff.; Gal. 5:16ff.). For the new man in Christ this principle “according to the flesh” is one of the old things that have passed away (2Co 5:17). To revert to it is nothing less than an undoing of the gospel. (The Second Epistle to the Corinthians -- The New International Commentary on the New Testament) THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A WAR! We do not war (strateuomai) according to the flesh (sarx) - Notice the word "not" (ou) which in Greek is the strongest way one can negate what follows. Paul is saying we absolutely do not wage war according to the flesh by trusting in and relying on the power of the natural man. Paul is speaking of waging war against accusations and insinuations made again by the false apostles, et al. Paul's point is that he would go to war with his spiritual opponents but would not resort to fleshly wisdom or human methods to carry out his "military campaign." THOUGHT - Every believer could be well described by the old wartime saying "You're in the Army Now!" There are no exemptions, no deferrals, no furloughs. For that matter, there is NEVER even a day off, and so there are none of those weekend "Passes" soldiers sought for a little "R&R." How many believers truly understand that our spiritual war is continual and because of their ignorance are frequent casualties of our three inveterate, mortal enemies the world, the flesh and the devil? Yes, the victory has been won at the Cross over each of these enemies, and yet we all charged to continually "fight (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) the good fight of faith" (1Ti 6:12+) for the glory of the Lord. Would you describe yourself as a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2Ti 2:3-4+)? In Ephesians 6:12+ Paul describes the believer's warfare writing that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." This passage begs the question - how could we possibly fight against spiritual forces with natural power? Of course, the answer is we absolutely cannot wage warfare in this manner and if we do, we will be soundly defeated! This begs another question - How critical is it for believers to be filled with and controlled by the Spirit if they are to wage spiritual warfare against unseen spiritual forces? Again the answer is obvious -- believers need the power of the Spirit to fight against "the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." THOUGHT - Are you experiencing frequent defeats in your spiritual battles? Do you even see them as spiritual battles? Jesus waged war against the epitome of evil spirits in His temptation by the devil in the wilderness (read Mt 4:1-11+, Luke 4:1-13+). He was fully God, but waged war as fully Man, a Man filled with the Word (memorization of passages in Deuteronomy) and filled with the Spirit and His power, and having put on the full armor of God, He successfully fended off the devil's repeated tempting attacks. In so doing he left every believer the pattern we too must follow/imitate, if we would be victorious over the invisible enemy. Are you letting the Word of Christ richly dwell within you, not just in your head, but in your heart (Col 3:16+)? Are you continually filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18+)? These are God's provisions that alone will guarantee victory in our daily spiritual battles. The Holy Word and the Holy Spirit are a "unit" (cf Ep 6:17+) and you must be energized by both to be a fully equipped soldier of Christ. And beloved, the battles will be DAILY, because our enemy never takes a rest and never goes AWOL (like a lot of believers!)! Do not be deceived. Do not let your guard down. Do not become lazy and apathetic in this lifelong war. According to the flesh - Here flesh refers to the evil disposition (see note). In other words, believers are not to fight this spiritual war in dependence upon "anti-God energy". They are not to fight in the spiritual, supernatural realm with fleshly,natural weapons energized by their old nature (See Sin as the unbeliever's "Master"). This is absolutely not the way to wage spiritual war. A spiritual battle requires spiritual weapons that can only come from God the Spirit. As noted above, believers must be continually filled, controlled, guided and governed by the Spirit (Ep 5:18+), continually walking in His power (Ga 5:16+, Ga 5:17+). Barton - Worldly weapons-wealth, fame, and political might-may wield some power on this earth, but they are useless in spiritual battles. Trickery and deception may be effective in dealing with other people, but only truth will achieve success in the spiritual realm. Cynicism may protect a person from betrayal, but only faith in God will empower a believer in his or her spiritual struggles. A willingness to flout conventional morality might gain someone a following in this world, but only persistently following God's righteous ways will ensure victory in the spiritual realm. (1 & 2 Corinthians Life Application Bible Commentary) Joseph Parker (in his sermon on 2 Corinthians 10:4 Weapons of Warfare) - The last idea that occurs to some professing Christians is that Christianity or that Christian life is a warfare. It has been noticed by observing and discerning persons that almost as soon as a man joins the Church he settles down into indifference or personal and selfish enjoyment,—as if a man should enlist into the army, and then go home and sit down all the rest of his days on the sunny side of his house and in the favourite spot in his garden. What kind of enlistment is that? Do you call that a soldierly spirit and a soldierly service? Whenever the idea of soldierliness took hold of Paul's imagination he elaborated the figure with marvellous energy....In addition to this the next mistake that is made is that persons who enter the Christian service imagine that all the fighting is to be done outside. You cannot fight outside until you have fought inside. The first man you have to kill is yourself....Are we at war? If the Church is not at war, it is unfaithful to Christ. Use Your Weapons Above all, [take] the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. —Ephesians 6:16 Today's Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20 Above all, [take] the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. -Ephesians 6:16 While visiting a museum, I was intrigued by a small inscription describing a class of Roman gladiators-the Retiarii-who fought using only a net and a trident. Of all the fearsome and lethal weapons available to those warriors, who often battled to the death, these men were given two items-a piece of webbing and a three-pronged spear. When they entered the arena, their survival depended on how well they used their weapons. In the spiritual battle we face as Christians, God has chosen our weapons: “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). It’s worth pausing to look at ourselves in the mirror of Ephesians 6:10-18 to see if we are properly equipped with “the whole armor of God.” From the helmet of salvation to the shoes of the gospel of peace, we are to be protected and armed for a conflict that depends not on human strength but on the power of God. Does all the world seem against you And you're in the battle alone? It's often when you are most helpless That God's mighty power is known. -Anon. Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. -Isaiah 40:31 Sam Storms - Excursus on 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 The fact that we need a helmet for combat points to the urgency of guarding our minds/understanding/thinking/thoughts. 1. The Nature of our Weapons a. NIV—“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.” I.e., we live and minister in flesh and blood bodies, but we repudiate the standards and values of the world; we do not utilize its tactics/schemes to achieve our goals. b. Our weapons have divine power, not human/worldly/fleshly power. Lit., dunata to theo, which can be taken one of four ways: l) made powerful by God; 2) divinely or supernaturally powerful; 3) powerful in God’s perspective; or 4) powerful for God. In any case, on any view, our weapons work! They are divinely effective. They get the job done because God works in/through them. c. What are our weapons? Since our adversaries are spiritual, so, too, must our weapons be spiritual. E.g., truth, righteousness, faith, assurance of salvation, the Word of God, prayer, praise, etc. What are the world’s weapons that Paul repudiates? Human ingenuity and wisdom, showmanship, flash, charm, powerfully persuasive personalities, eloquence devoid of the spirit. 2. The Purpose of Our Weapons What can our weapons do? a. They destroy “fortresses” (NASB) or “strongholds” (NIV). See Prov. 21:22 (the people in a city would build a sturdy outer wall for security; inside it they built a stronghold, a massively fortified tower to which they could retreat as a last line of defense). b. To what do “fortresses/strongholds” refer? Verse 5 gives the answer: (l) “arguments” (NIV) or “speculations” (NASB) = lit., thoughts, plans, intentions. Cf. 2 Cor. 2:11; 4:4; Rom. 1:21; 1 Cor. 3:20. He is saying that his/our weapons “destroy the way people think, demolish their sinful thought patterns, the mental structures by which they live their lives in rebellion against God” (D. A. Carson); (2) “every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” (NASB), “every pretension that sets itself up against the kingdom of God” (NIV). I.e., every arrogant claim, every haughty or prideful thought, every pompous act that forms a barrier to knowledge of God. I.e., every argument used to rationalize sin and unbelief and delay repentance. In sum, our warfare is aimed at dismantling and tearing down the sinful reasoning and rationalizations which are strongholds by which the mind fortifies itself against the gospel. Arnold (Three Crucial Questions) argues that “the critical thrust of the passage is directed against christological heresy.… Therefore, in its original context, demolishing strongholds refers to changing wrong ideas about Christ in the minds of believers who have been influenced by demonically inspired teaching” (54–55). c. “Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” i.e., ideas/notions/plans are taken over and transformed as they come into a new allegiance. Two additional issues: First, some have misinterpreted/misapplied this text as if it spoke of cosmic level spiritual warfare (i.e. territorial demons). “Strongholds” and “high and lofty things” have been taken as referring to demonic spirits. But the enemies in view are ideas and arguments and philosophies and excuses that are antithetical to the kingdom and glory of God. Yet, again, who is behind these thoughts? Who inspires them? See Eph. 2:1–3; 4:17–19 “darkened” by whom); 2 Cor. 4:4 (how are they blinded if not by being deceived with philosophical and religious lies?); Acts 26:18; 1 Tim. 4:1–2. Second, contextually Paul is talking about “strongholds” in the lives/minds of non-Christians. But do Christians have them too? Yes. Such intellectual/philosophical/moral enemies to the kingdom of God don’t automatically disappear when we get saved. A stronghold is “a mindset impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept as unchangeable something we know is contrary to God’s will” (Silvoso). Or again, strongholds are negative patterns of thought that cripple our ability to obey God and thus breed feelings of guilt and despair. They are burned into our minds either through repetition over time (such as occurs in an abusive, incestuous relationship) or through a one-time traumatic experience. The solution is in experiencing the truth of Rom. 12:1–2 and Eph. 4:20–24. (l) Fill your mind with God’s Word (memorize Scripture). (2) Affirmations of your Christian identity. 3) Phil. 4:8. (4) Challenge every negative/destructive thought the instant it enters your mind; evaluate it in light of the Word. (see also TAKING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE FOR CHRIST (2 COR. 10:4-6) Other Related Articles by Sam Storms: BOASTING, COMPARING, AND COMMENDING: A WARNING (2 COR. 10:9-12) Is all Boasting Bad? (2 Cor 10:13-18 W W Dawley - When the soldier enlists in his country’s army, he is furnished with uniform and arms.… So God arms His recruits, equipping them with both power and sword. Their business is to use to the best advantage what God bestows upon them. He gave Moses a rod, David a sling, Samson the jawbone of an ass, Shamgar an ox-goad, Esther beauty of person, Deborah the gift of poesy, Dorcas a needle, and Apollos an eloquent tongue, and to each the ability to use what each one had, and in so doing each one did most effective work for God. So He supplies each one of His disciples to-day with something that when used will make him useful in His kingdom, and to each man “to profit withal.” Let us use the weapon that God has given us and not sit down to pine for the instrument that He has bestowed upon another. The use of the weapon that we have will make us a success. The attempt to use another’s would make us a failure. ILLUSTRATION - The battlefields of history are strewn with the wreckage of courageous, but ill-equipped, soldiers. At the famous battle of the Little Big Horn, George Armstrong Custer recklessly led his men against a much larger force of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. In the ensuing battle his regiment was destroyed, and he and all 210 men under his immediate command killed. When the Nazi blitzkrieg rolled into Poland, a brigade of Polish cavalry gallantly, but foolishly, charged a formation of German tanks. The troopers’ lances and swords were no match for the panzers’ cannons and machine guns, and they were all slaughtered. - John MacArthur (2 Corinthians Commentary) Brian Bell - Moses had to learn that God’s weapons are spiritual! a) Remember Moses 1st warred after the flesh & “struck down the Egyptian”. 1 b) Later, God showed him how to war after the spirit & he watch Gods hand move against the heart of Pharaoh & the nation of Egypt, w/God’s signs & wonders…not Moses’! Ray Stedman wisely reminds us that... God has issued to each of us a bugle call to intelligent combat (cp our transfer from the power of Satan to God - Col 1:12, 13-note, Col 1:14-note, Acts 26:18, 2Ti 2:3,4-note, cp Heb 2:14,15-note). It is a call to us to be men and women of God, to fight the good fight (1Ti 1:18, 6:12, 1Ti 4:7-note), to stand fast in the faith, to be strong in the Lord in the midst of the battle, in the midst of this dark and evil world (cp Ro 13:11-note, Ro 13:12-note, Ro 13, 14-note, 1Jn 5:19 [cp Lk 4:5, 6, 7], Ep 2:2-note, Ep 2:3-note). Those who ignore this call and the battle that rages around them (and "in" them 1Pe 2:11-note, James 1:13,14,15-note, Gal 5:17-note) are doomed to be casualties. We cannot remain neutral. We must choose sides. We must align ourselves with the forces of God, the forces of good. We must answer the bugle call, we must put on our armor and stand our ground or the battle will roll over us and in our defenseless, bewildered state, the forces of evil will trample us into the dust of the battlefield. So we must learn to recognize how the dark systems of the devil work. But more than that, we must learn the processes of overcoming the systems of the devil not by flesh and blood, not by joining committees, not by political action, not by taking up clubs or assault weapons and attacking a human enemy. No, Paul says the weapons of our warfare are not flesh and blood weapons, not physical weapons, not political weapons. Rather, our weapons are mighty, through God, unto the pulling down of strongholds and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2Co 10:3, 4, 5). That is the path to victory! (See Spiritual Warfare | RayStedman.org 2Cor 10:3-5 Exposition) James Smith - OUR WARFARE 2 CORINTHIANS 10:3–7 (Handfuls of Purpose) The idea of warfare here is very emphatic. It is a bloodless struggle for the higher life. Being deserters from the camp of Satan, we must expect conflict, but greater is He that is for us. I. Our Enemy. Our enemy consists of allied forces. There is— 1. THE FLESH, OR CARNAL MIND. “Though we walk in the flesh (body) we do not war after the flesh” (v. 3). “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” The carnal mind is a sworn enemy to the things of the Spirit. It is a rebel against the law of God (Rom. 8:7). The worldly mind is essentially opposed to the mind of the Spirit. To be carnally minded is death. 2. IMAGINATIONS. “Casting down imaginations” (v. 5). Those high-flying renegade thoughts that would carry us to the palace called vanity, and that seeks to put the crown of pride, upon our self-satisfaction. Such vain imaginings are dangerous to the soul’s highest good (Psa. 2:1). 3. EVERY THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (v. 5). Every thought and feeling and act that springs up from a doubting heart against the word, the will, and the wisdom of God is vile presumption. Everything that is moral in the “old man” seeks to exalt itself. Beware of pride. II. Our Weapons. The weapons of our warfare— 1. ARE NOT CARNAL (v. 4). They don’t belong to the “old nature.” They are not man-made. Not a product of human ingenuity. Spiritual enemies cannot be overcome by material weapons. We cannot overcome evil with evil. “Railing for railing” and such like are of the flesh and not of God. 2. THEY ARE MIGHTY THROUGH GOD. They are mighty because God’s hand grips them, and that hand is almighty. These are His weapons for bringing down the “strongholds” of unbelief, sin, and Satan, and breaking the wings of our vain and lofty imaginations, and everything that would exalt itself “against the knowledge of God.” This unbending and never-failing weapon is the “Word of God” in the hand of the Holy Spirit, for the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God (Eph. 6:17). With this weapon of His Truth, we are also, through faith, to be more than conquerors. “For the Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). Like the sword of Goliath, “There is none like it. Give it me.” III. Our Victory 1. IS SURE. “The pulling down of strongholds” (v. 4). The first stronghold that has to be pulled down is our own self-will. This is the citadel of the carnal man. Here we have victory by surrendering to the Prince of Life. When our wills have been conquered by the subduing power of His mighty love, then we become partakers of the Divine nature, and are brought into league with Christ Himself, and so become, by His grace, victors over sin and the strongholds of Satan. “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10). 2. IT IS TO BE COMPLETE. “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (v. 5). When a fort has been captured, then all that are in it are taken prisoners. Thoughts are fugitive things, and have to be watched and restrained, “for as a man thinketh, so is he.” Thoughts constitute character. Pure thinking leads to noble action. They are the subtle weapons of life’s warfare. How important then it is that our thoughts should be brought into captivity to the will of Jesus Christ. Thoughts require mastering. Who can guide, sanctify, and use them as Christ can? Under His control they become weapons of triumph. Thoughts are difficult things to get hold of, but when captured by Christ, He will hold them for thoughts are captured when they are captivated. Like Rebekah, they say, “I will go with this Man” (Gen. 24:58). We can bring out thoughts into the captivity of obedience of Christ by keeping steadfastly “looking unto Jesus,” who is the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Subduer of our wills, the Winner of our affections, the Captor of our thoughts, and the Giver of every good and perfect gift. “What think ye of Christ?” J Oswald Sanders - Warfare and Weapons 2 Corinthians 10:3–4 Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4 NASB). The reality of the spiritual battle, of which we are very aware on a daily basis, proves the existence of Satan. The fierceness of the fight demonstrates the power and tenacity of the foe. The warfare is spiritual, not waged in the flesh but conducted on the spiritual level; this is in a different realm from where the unregenerate person lives. It is intangible warfare, not with physical weapons. We cannot seize people and drag them from Satan’s grasp. We can reach and deliver them only through spiritual tactics. It is a battle of two armies with entirely different goals. It is also interminable warfare. The war that began in Eden will end only when Satan is finally bound. In the meantime, he is struggling unceasingly to gain control of the world and its inhabitants. There is no escaping the effects of this warfare. The battlefield is the human mind, in our imaginations and thoughts (v. 5). Battles always have their focal points, and this war is waged in the realm of our thoughts. Imagination, in this instance, means speculations apart from God for our own benefit. The imagination in this unhealthy sense is the source of a great deal of our sin. It conjures up wrong images and desires, and when the will entertains instead of rejects them, the citadel falls. Thoughts include our independent plans and purposes. The thoughts and purposes of the unregenerate man are contrary to those of God. The invincible weapons at our disposal are the cross and the Word of Truth. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11 KJV). We need to use them both in the power of the Spirit. (CC) Henry