2 COR 10:3 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) We might be living in this world, but it’s not people that we’re at war with,

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For though walking in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.

UST In fact, although we act as humans, we do not defend ourselves in merely human ways.

AICNT For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh,

OEB For, though we live an earthly life, we do not wage an earthly war.

WEBBE For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh;

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(3-6)The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

NET For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards,

LSV for walking in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

FBV Even though we live in this world, we don't fight as the world does.

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

T4T Remember that although I am human like everyone else in the world, I do not fight against those who oppose me in the way that people who are not believers fight those who oppose them.

LEB For although we[fn] are living in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh,

10:3 *Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are living”) which is understood as concessive

BBE For though we may be living in the flesh, we are not fighting after the way of the flesh

Moff I do live in the flesh, but I do not make war as the flesh does;

Wymth For, though we are still living in the world, it is no worldly warfare that we are waging.

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

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

YLT for walking in the flesh, not according to the flesh do we war,

Drby For walking in flesh, we do not war according to flesh.

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

SLT For walking in the flesh, we war not after the flesh:

Wbstr For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh:

KJB-1769 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

KJB-1611 For though we walke in the flesh, we doe not warre after the flesh:
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps For though we walke in the fleshe, yet we do not warre according to ye flesh.
(For though we walk in the flesh, yet we do not war according to ye/you_all flesh.)

Gnva Neuerthelesse, though wee walke in the flesh, yet we doe not warre after the flesh.
(Nevertheless, though we walk in the flesh, yet we do not war after the flesh. )

Cvdl for though we walke in the flesh, yet fighte we not after a fleshly maner.
(for though we walk in the flesh, yet fight we not after a fleshly manner.)

TNT Neverthelesse though we walke compased with the fleshe yet we warre not flesshlye
(Nevertheless though we walk compased with the flesh yet we war not flesshlye )

Wycl For we walkynge in fleisch, fiyten not aftir the fleisch.
(For we walking in flesh, fighting not after the flesh.)

Luth Denn ob wir wohl im Fleisch wandeln, so streiten wir doch nicht fleischlicherweise.
(Because if/whether we/us probably/well in_the flesh walk, so argue/battle we/us though/but not fleshly/carnalweise.)

ClVg In carne enim ambulantes, non secundum carnem militamus.[fn]
(In flesh/meat because walking, not/no after/second the_flesh militamus. )

10.3 Non secundum carnem militamus. Non enim militiam a Deo nobis datam exercemus secundum carnem, id est, pro terreno commodo.

10.3 Not/No after/second the_flesh militamus. Not/No because military_service from to_God us datam exercemus after/second the_flesh, that it_is, for on_the_ground commodo.

UGNT ἐν σαρκὶ γὰρ περιπατοῦντες, οὐ κατὰ σάρκα στρατευόμεθα.
(en sarki gar peripatountes, ou kata sarka strateuometha.)

SBL-GNT ἐν σαρκὶ γὰρ περιπατοῦντες οὐ κατὰ σάρκα στρατευόμεθα—
(en sarki gar peripatountes ou kata sarka strateuometha—)

RP-GNT Ἐν σαρκὶ γὰρ περιπατοῦντες, οὐ κατὰ σάρκα στρατευόμεθα -
(En sarki gar peripatountes, ou kata sarka strateuometha -)

TC-GNT Ἐν σαρκὶ γὰρ περιπατοῦντες, οὐ κατὰ σάρκα στρατευόμεθα—
(En sarki gar peripatountes, ou kata sarka strateuometha— )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–18: Paul defended his ministry

In this section, Paul asked the believers in Corinth to live in obedience to their faith, or he might have to rebuke or discipline some (10:1–2). He explained how a believer fights against those who oppose God (10:3–4) and how to rebuke them as well as correct a disobedient believer (10:5–6).

He told them to understand their situation, including Paul’s authority (10:7–8). He explained that he was forceful in his letters, and that he would be forceful in person if he had to be (10:9–11).

He told them that people who commend themselves are not wise (10:12). He explained that he boasted only in proper ways. One of those ways was boasting about the faith of people whom he had helped become believers, which included those in Corinth (10:13–15a). He told them that he hoped to preach the gospel in more regions (10:15b–16a). He explained further about proper things to boast about (10:16b–17). Lastly, he told them that God approves of people according to what God himself says in favor of them and not what a person boasts about himself (10:18).

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Paul’s reply to accusations of weakness (NJB)

Paul Describes Himself (NASB)

Paul responded to some who had criticized him

10:3a–b

though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh: The Greek words are literally, “in flesh living, not according to flesh we war.” Paul indicated here that though he had a human body he did not wage war according to human motives, means, or goals.

The phrase wage war is a metaphor here. It refers to opposing others. People of the world oppose other people. Believers are told to oppose Satan and the demons.

In some languages a literal translation of this metaphor would not indicate the correct meaning. In that case you may want to:

Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
we do not oppose our enemies in the way that the people of this world wage war against their enemies
we do not oppose the false teachers in the way that worldly people make war against their enemies
Translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
we do not fight/come against people as the people of this world do You may then want a footnote to indicate the literal words. An example footnote is:
Literally: “we do not wage war as the world does.” This refers to opposing Satan and his followers, not about taking weapons and killing people.

10:3a

For though we live in the flesh,

For although we^(excl) walk on earth,
We live human lives

For: The conjunction introduces an explanation of why Paul could be bold toward those who opposed him. In some languages it is more natural to allow the context to indicate the connection to 10:2d and omit the conjunction.

though: The word though indicates a connection between admitting one statement and denying another statement. Paul and the others lived on this earth, but they did not wage war according to earthly ways. This is different from what people might expect. Other ways to translate this word are:

although we are human, it is not by human methods that we do battle (NJB)

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. (NLT)

we live in the flesh: The Greek words are literally “in the flesh walking (around).” This Greek phrase refers to living on earth as all people do. Other ways to translate this clause are:

we live as human beings (NRSV)

We are human (NLT)

10:3b

we do not wage war according to the flesh.

we do not war according to earthly ways.
but we do not fight/oppose our enemies/opponents by human methods/means.

we do not wage war according to the flesh: The phrase wage war according to the flesh refers to how people of the world oppose others. This would include lying, deceiving, slandering, secretly plotting, fighting, and so forth.

In some languages it is necessary to say whom a person wages war against. In that case you may want to include the implied information. For example:

we do not wage war against our opponents as the world does

we do not fight our enemies as people who do not know God do

according to the flesh: Here the word flesh refers to people who do not know God. They use earthly weapons, but believers use weapons such as prayer and God’s word. Other ways to translate this clause are:

according to earthly ways

according to human standards (NRSV)

by human methods (NJB)

as humans do (NLT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐν σαρκί γάρ περιπατοῦντες οὒ κατά σάρκα στρατευόμεθα)

Here, the word For introduces a further explanation of what Paul said in the previous verse ([10:2](../10/02.md)) about how some people think that he and his fellow workers walk according to the flesh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces further explanation. Alternate translation: [Indeed, though]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

περιπατοῦντες

walking

You should translate walking as you did in [10:2](../10/02.md). Alternate translation: [acting] or [living our lives]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν σαρκὶ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐν σαρκί γάρ περιπατοῦντες οὒ κατά σάρκα στρατευόμεθα)

Here, the phrase in the flesh indicates that Paul and his fellow workers are humans like everyone else. He is contrasting his humanity with how he wages war, which is not the way in which most humans wage war. If possible, express this idea so that it is clearly connected to how you translate according to the flesh. Alternate translation: [in human lives]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

οὐ & στρατευόμεθα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐν σαρκί γάρ περιπατοῦντες οὒ κατά σάρκα στρατευόμεθα)

Here and in [10:4–6](../10/04.md), Paul speaks as if he and his fellow workers were waging a war. He means that they proclaim the good news and defend it and other believers against people and powers that try to corrupt the good news and hurt believers. Paul does not mean that they are actually killing people or fighting with physical weapons. If possible, preserve the metaphor or express the idea with a simile. Alternate translation: [we are like people who wage war, but not] or [we do not fight]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

κατὰ σάρκα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐν σαρκί γάρ περιπατοῦντες οὒ κατά σάρκα στρατευόμεθα)

You should translate this phrase as you did in [10:2](../10/02.md). Alternate translation: [according to what humans value] or [according to a human perspective]

Parallel 2 COR 10:3

Section 10:1–18: Paul defended his ministry

10:3a–b

10:3a

10:3b

Parallel 2 COR 10:3