2 Corinthians 10:1-6

Expanded Bible

Paul Defends His Ministry

10 I, Paul, ·am begging [urge; appeal to] you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. ·Some people say that I am [^L…—I who am; ^CPaul is answering an accusation; see v. 10] ·easy on you [lenient; or timid] when I am with you and bold when I am away [^CPaul here confronts those still resisting his authority]. ² I ·beg [ask] you that when I ·come [am present] I will not need to use that same boldness with you that I expect to use with those who ·think [or claim] we ·live [walk] ·in a worldly way [by the world’s standards; ^Laccording to the flesh]. ³ [^LFor] Although we ·live in the world [^Lwalk in the flesh], we do not ·fight [wage war] ·in the same way the world fights [^Laccording to the flesh]. ⁴ We fight with weapons that are ·different from those the world uses [not merely human weapons; ^Lnot of the flesh]. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy ·the enemy’s strong places [^Lstrongholds; fortresses]. We destroy ·people’s arguments [human reasoning; sophistries] ⁵ and every ·proud thing [pretension; exalted opinion; ^Lhigh thing] that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it obey Christ. ⁶ We are ready to ·punish [avenge] ·anyone there who does not obey [^Levery disobedience], ·but first we want you to obey fully [^Lonce/after your obedience is fulfilled; ^Conce the church as a whole repents, Paul will discipline those who refuse].