2 Corinthians 10:12

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 'We do not presume (irony.) to judge ourselves among, or in comparison with, some of them that command themselves.' The charge brought against him of commending himself (2 Corinthians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 5:12) really holds good of the false teachers. The phrase, 'judge ourselves of the number,' is drawn from the testing of athletes and senators, the 'approved' being set on the roll (Wahl). MEASURING THEMSELVES BY THEMSELVES - `among themselves,' to correspond to the previous 'judge ourselves among them.' Instead of the public s...

12._For we dare not. _He says this by way of _irony, _for afterwards he does not merely compare himself boldly with them, but, deriding their vanity, he leaves them far behind him. Now by this _irony _he gives a stroke, not merely to those foolish boasters, (772) but also to the Corinthians, who encouraged them in their folly by their misdirected approbation. “I am satisfied,” says he, “with my moderate way; for I would not dare to put myself on a footing with your Apostles, who are the heralds of their own excellence.” In the mean time, when he intimates that their glory consists of mere speaking and boasting, he shows, how silly and worthless they are, while he claims for himself deeds instead of words, that is, true and solid ground of glorying. He may seem, however, to err in the very thing for which he reproves others, for he immediately afterwards commends himself. I answer, that h...

12-18 If we would compare ourselves with others who excel us, this would be a good method to keep us humble. The apostle fixes a good rule for his conduct; namely, not to boast of things without his measure, which was the measure God had distributed to him. There is not a more fruitful source of error, than to judge of persons and opinions by our own prejudices. How common is it for persons to judge of their own religious character, by the opinions and maxims of the world around them! But how different is the rule of God's word! And of all flattery, self-flattery is the worst. Therefore, instead of praising ourselves, we should strive to approve ourselves to God. In a word, let us glory in the Lord our salvation, and in all other things only as evidences of his love, or means of promoting his glory. Instead of praising ourselves, or seeking the praise of men, let us desire that honour wh...

Verse 2 Corinthians 10:12. _WE DARE NOT MAKE OURSELVES_, c.] As if he had said: I dare neither associate with, nor compare myself to, those who are full of self-commendation. Some think this to be an _ironical_ speech. _BUT THEY, MEASURING THEMSELVES BY THEMSELVES_] They are not sent of God they are not inspired by his Spirit; therefore they have no _rule_ to think or act by. They are also full of pride and self-conceit; they look within themselves for accomplishments which their self-love will soon find out; for to it _real_ and _fictitious_ are the same. As they dare not compare themselves with the true apostles of Christ, they compare themselves with each other; and, as they have no _perfect standard_, they can have no _excellence_; nor can they ever attain true _wisdom_, which is not to be had from

FOR WE DARE NOT MAKE OURSELVES OF THE NUMBER - We admit that we are not bold enough for that. They had accused him of a lack of boldness and energy when present with them, 2Co 10:1, 2 Corinthians 10:10. Here in a strain of severe but delicate irony, he says he was not bold enough to do things which the had done. He did not dare to do the things which had been done among them. To such boldness of character, present or absent, he could lay no claim. OR COMPARE OURSELVES ... - I am not bold enough for that. That requires a stretch of boldness and energy to which I can lay no claim. THAT COMMEND THEMSELVES - That put themselves forward, and that boast of their endowments and attainments. It is probable that this was commonly done

EXPOSITION With this chapter begins the last great section of the Epistle (verse 1-2 Corinthians 13:10), which contains an impassioned vindication of the apostle's position as compared with that of his opponents. It is so much more vehement and severe than the former part of the Epistle, and the whole style and tone of the Epistle at this point change so completely, that many have supposed that this is in reality another letter, and some have even identified it with the letter alluded to in 2 Corinthians 7:8. There is no trace of external evidence in favour of this view. It is much more probable that St. Paul would here have ended his letter but for fresh information given him by Titus, or the arrival of some new messenger from Corinth, from whom he learnt the bitter

FOR WE DARE NOT MAKE OURSELVES OF THE NUMBER,.... Some understand this as spoken ironically, as if the apostle jeeringly should say, he would not pretend to join, or put himself upon a level, who was a poor, little, mean, despicable person, with such great men as the false apostles were, men of such large gifts, and of such great learning and eloquence; though they may be understood without an irony, that the modesty of the apostle and his fellow ministers would not suffer them to mingle with such persons, and act the vainglorious part they did: or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; they were not so vain and foolish, as to give high encomiums of themselves, therefore would not boast even of the authority they had, and much less say that in letters, which they could not make good in fact: BUT THEY MEASURING THEMSELVES BY THEMSELVES, AND COMPARING THEMSELVES AMONG THEMSE...

2 CORINTHIANS 10:12-13 ouv sunia/sin) h`mei/j de, {B} The absence of ouv sunia/sin) h`mei/j de, in several witnesses of the Western text (D* G itd, g, ar Ambrosiaster Vigilius Sedulius Scotus) is doubtless the result of an accident in transcription, when the eye of a copyist passed from ouv to ouvk and omitted the intervening words. The reading h`mei/j de, (429 vg Ephraem Pelagius) appears to be an imperfect restoration of the shortened text. The reading ouv suni,sasin) h`mei/j de, (a* 88) is an obvious orthographical error, which produces the sense “they compare themselves with themselves without understanding [that...

III. THE APOSTLE'S SELF-DEFENSE AND VINDICATION. CHAPTER S 10-13 1. The Vindication of His Authority CHAPTER 10 The apostle now turns to vindicate the authority, which he had received from the Lord. This had been brought into question by the enemy. In doing this Satan aimed at three things: He attempted to discredit him as a true minister of God; he tried to damage the great truths the apostle preached, and he endeavored also to bring about a separation between the apostle and the Corinthians. Assuredly the great man of God was troubled and did not want to speak much of himself and his authority. But he was forced to do so in this epistle and also in the epistle to the Galatians, for the truth of God and the honor of the Lord were at stake. The defense of his apostolic authority stands in the foreground in Galatians; here he puts it at the close of his letter, for it was necessary to d...

PAUL'S CLAIM IS ABSOLUTE, YET LIMITED IN ITS SCOPE; FOR IT ARISES FROM AND IS GOVERNED BY HIS DEPENDENCE UPON GOD. This paragraph is full of allusion to the assertions, claims, and criticisms of his opponents. They claim superiority to Paul on the ground of some special relation to Christ, possibly that they had been actually His disciples (_cf._ 1 Corinthians 1:12 *). They asserted that Paul used his authority to humiliate the church (2 Corinthians 10:8), that he browbeat them in his letters, whereas his personal appearance was feeble (2 Corinthians 10:9 f.), that he claimed what we should call a jurisdiction practically unlimited. On each point Paul replies vigorously, indignantly. L