2 Corinthians 10 · Verse 2

2 Corinthians 10:2

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.

2 Corinthians 10:2, King James Version

2 Corinthians 10:2 in other translations

BSB	I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.
WEB	Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.
ASV	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.
YLT	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;
DARBY	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.
BBE	Yes, I make my request to you, so that when I am with you I may not have to make use of the authority which may be needed against some to whom we seem to be walking after the flesh.
Webster	But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, with which I think to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

What does 2 Corinthians 10:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

2. I beseech you--Intimating that, as he can beseech in letters, so he can be severe in their presence. that I may not be--that I may not have to be bold, &c. with that confidence--that authoritative sternness. I think--I am minded to be. as if we walked according to the flesh--His Corinthian detractors judged of him by themselves, as if he were influenced by fleshly motives, the desire of favor or fear of giving offense, so as not to exercise his authority when present.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 2. That I may not be bold. I entreat you so to act that I may not have occasion to exercise the severity which I fear I shall be compelled to use against those who accuse me of being governed wholly by worldly motives and policy. That I may not be compelled to be bold and decisive in my measures by your improper conduct.

Which think of us, Marg., reckon. They suppose this; or, they accuse me of it. By the word "us," here, Paul means himself, though it is possible also that he speaks in the name of his fellow-apostles and labourers who were associated with him, and the objections may have referred to all who acted with him.

As if we walked. As if we lived or acted. The word "walk," in the Scriptures, is often used to denote the course or manner of life. Rom 4:12; 2Cor 5:7.

According to the flesh. 2Cor 1:17. As if we were governed by the weak and corrupt principles of human nature. As if we had no higher motive than carnal and worldly policy. As if we were seeking our own advantage, and not the welfare of the world. The charge was, probably, that he was not governed by high and holy principles, but by the principles of mere worldly policy; that he was guided by personal interests, and by worldly views--by ambition, or the love of dominion, wealth, or popularity, and that he was destitute of every supernatural endowment, and every evidence of a Divine commission.

(c) "I think to be bold" 2Cor 13:2,10 (2) "think of us" "reckon"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 2 Some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh - As it is customary for cowards and overbearing men to threaten the weak and the timid when present; to bluster when absent; and to be very obsequious in the presence of the strong and courageous. This conduct they appear to have charged against the apostle, which he calls here walking after the flesh - acting as a man who had worldly ends in view, and would use any means in order to accomplish them.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

While others thought meanly, and spake scornfully of the apostle, he had low thoughts, and spake humbly of himself. We should be aware of our own infirmities, and think humbly of ourselves, even when men reproach us. The work of the ministry is a spiritual warfare with spiritual enemies, and for spiritual purposes. Outward force is not the method of the gospel, but strong persuasions, by the power of truth and the…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 →

2 Corinthians 10:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

δέομαιdeomaiI implore [you]G1189

δὲdenowG1161

τὸtothatG3588

μὴmēnotG3361

παρὼνparōnbeing presentG3918

θαρρῆσαιtharrēsaito be boldG2292

τῇtēawith theG3588

πεποιθήσειpepoithēseiconfidenceG4006

ᾗhēwith whichG3739

λογίζομαιlogizomaiI reckonG3049

τολμῆσαιtolmēsaito be daringG5111

ἐπίepitowardG1909

τιναςtinassomeG5100

τοὺςtousthoseG3588

λογιζομένουςlogizomenousreckoningG3049

ἡμᾶςhēmasusG3165

ὡςhōsasG5613

κατὰkataaccording toG2596

σάρκαsarkafleshG4561

περιπατοῦντας.peripatountaswalking.G4043

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 10:2

2 Corinthians 13:10
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
2 Corinthians 13:2
I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
Galatians 5:16-25
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, …
Ephesians 2:2-3
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
1 Corinthians 4:18-21
Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
2 Corinthians 12:13-20
For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. …
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 11:9-13
And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

that I.
12:20; 13:2,10; 1Co 4:19-21
think. or, reckon. we walked.
11:9-13; 12:13-19; Ro 8:1,5; Ga 5:16-25; Eph 2:2,3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Corinthians 10:1
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2 Corinthians 10:2
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.
2 Corinthians 10:3
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

Read all of 2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians 10:2 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Ruego pues, que cuando estuviere presente, no tenga que ser atrevido con la confianza con que estoy en ánimo de ser resuelto para con algunos, que nos tienen como si anduviésemos según la carne.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	mais je vous supplie que, lorsque je serai présent, je n’use pas de hardiesse avec cette assurance avec laquelle je pense que je prendrai sur moi d’agir envers quelques-uns qui pensent que nous marchons selon la chair.
German Elberfelder 1871	Ich flehe aber, daß ich anwesend nicht kühn sein müsse mit der Zuversicht, mit welcher ich gedenke, gegen etliche dreist zu sein, die uns als nach dem Fleische wandelnd erachten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Rogo autem vos ne præsens audeam per eam confidentiam, qua existimor audere in quosdam, qui arbitrantur nos tamquam secundum carnem ambulemus.