II Corinthians 10

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh” (v3). Paul was facing opponents in Corinth who accused him of being too direct with his letters and too soft face-to-face (v10). But Paul appealed to them “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ” (v1), explaining that he followed Jesus’ methods of persuasion, rather than “waging war according to the flesh.” Jesus’ methods of truth and sacrificial love have “divine power to destroy strongholds” (v4).

Our real battle is against the sins of pride, anger, and self-righteousness that tempt us to use worldly weapons.  Therefore, we take “every thought captive to obey Christ” (v5), knowing that the way of the cross defeats the world.