The Christian Combat

2 Corinthians 10:2-4 KJV

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.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

The accusation was that Paul warred after the flesh. Now, that Paul warred was no question. He, as are all Christians, are In combat. Albert Barnes says, 

"(1) It is a warfare with the corrupt desires and sensual propensities of the heart; with eternal corruption and depravity, with the remaining unsubdued propensities of a fallen nature.

(2) With the powers of darkness; the mighty spirits of evil that seek to destroy us;

(3) With sin in all forms; with idolatry, sensuality, corruption, intemperance, profaneness, wherever they may exist. The Christian is opposed to all these, and it is the aim and purpose of his life as far as he may be able to resist and subdue them. He is a soldier enlisted under the banner of the Redeemer to oppose and resist all forms of evil. But his warfare is not conducted on worldly principles. Muhammed propagated his religion with the sword; and the people of this world seek for victory by arms and violence; The Christian looks for his conquests only by the force and the power of truth, and by the agency of the Spirit of God."

Paul surely was in combat. The error of the accusers was in believing that this warfare was in the power of the flesh and not of the spirit. There are two ways to view this:

That he warred with worldly motivations and not spiritual ones

• That his principles and purposes, that his procedures and battle plans were carnal and self centered
• That Paul was a glory seeker only serving to build his own self interests

This Paul flatly denies. His work had higher ideals than that of self. His ministry was not for personal glory. His principles were not self developed. He was led of the Spirit and sought only the glory of God.

That he warred with earthly power

• That his dynamic was his education or background or charismatic abilities
• That he was somehow able to gain a following by his own powers of persuasion and debate 

Once again this is emphatically denied by Paul. His weapons were not carnal. He was endued with power that was of God. 

• It was the Holy Spirit's gifting and not and not personal charisma
• It was the Holy Spirit's inspiration and not his education
• It was the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and not his powers of persuasion

The people of the world have always accused the work of Christ of having a lower motivation than God and of having a lesser authority than the Spirit. 

Let them accuse. But do not give them evidence of the truthfulness of their words. Keep the contest in the realm of the spiritual.