2 Corinthians 10:2

The Spiritual War

1 Now ^aI, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—^bwho in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

2 But I beg you ^athat when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

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

4 ^aFor the weapons ^bof our warfare are not carnal but ^cmighty in God ^dfor pulling down strongholds,

5 ^acasting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

6 ^aand being ready to punish all disobedience when ^byour obedience is fulfilled.

Reality of Paul’s Authority

7 ^aDo you look at things according to the outward appearance? ^bIf anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even¹ so ^cwe are Christ’s.

Verse Comparison: 2 Corinthians 10:2

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American Standard Version
yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

Amplified® Bible
I entreat you when I do come [to you] that I may not [be driven to such] boldness as I intend to show toward those few who suspect us of acting according to the flesh [on the low level of worldly motives and as if invested with only human powers].

Contemporary English Version
Some people have said that we act like the people of this world. So when I arrive, I expect I will have to be firm and forceful in what I say to them. Please don't make me treat you that way.

Darby English Version
but I beseech that present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I think to be daring towards some who think of us as walking according to flesh.

Good News Bible
I beg you not to force me to be harsh when I come; for I am sure I can deal harshly with those who say that we act from worldly motives.

International Standard Version
I beg you that when I come I will not need to be courageous by daring to oppose some people who think that we are living according to the flesh.

King James Version
But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

New American Standard Bible
I ask that when I am present I {need} 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.

New International Version
I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.

New King James Version
But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
ask that when I meet you face to face I need not show boldness with the confidence with which I propose to show courage against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.

Young's Literal Translation
and I beseech `you', that, being present, I may not have courage, with the confidence with which I reckon to be bold against certain reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;

New English Translation
now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving¹ according to human standards.²

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