quominus Spiritus sancti virtus mirifice se exsereret in ejus iufirmitate."
Instead of the general expression " to walk," Paul uses, in the second clause, the more specific term, " to war." We war not y ov aTparevoiJieSa. 'XrpaTevo) means, to go to war, to make a campaign ; crrpaTevofxaL means, to serve as a soldier, to fight. The war here referred to, is that which the apostle waged against error and every thing opposed to the gospel. This war, he says, he did not conduct {Kara adpKa) after the flesh ; that is, governed by the flesh, or relying on it. He was not guided by the princij^les of ordinary men, who act under the influence of their corrupt nature ; neither did he depend for success on any thing the flesh (i. e. human nature) could aflbrd. He was governed by the Spirit and relied upon the Spirit. " What Paul says of himself, is true of all the faithful ministers of Christ. They bear about an incomparable treasure in earthen vessels. Therefore, although they are compassed with infirmities, nevertheless the spiritual power of God is resplendent in them." — Calvin. The connection of this verse, as indicated by the j^article yap (/or), is either with the middle clause of the preceding verse, ' I am determined to be bold towards the opponents of the truth, for though I walk in the flesh, I do not war after the flesh ; ' or, as is often the case in Paul's epistles, the yap refers to a thought omitted. * Some think that I walk after the flesh — that is 7iot true — for though I walk in the flesh, I do not war after it.' The latter seems the more natural and forcible.
4. (Por the weapons of our warfare (are) not car- nal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds).
This proves that the main idea intended by warring after the fleshy is warring with human weapons, relying on human resources. In the war in which Paul was engaged, his confi- dence was not in himself, not in human reason, not in the power of argument or eloquence, not in the resources of cun- ning or management, but simply and only in the supernatural power of God. ' We war not after the flesh, for our weapons are not carnal.' That is, such as the flesh, or human nature, furnishes, and which therefore in their own nature are carnal, or human. By weapons is, of course, to be understood all the