2 Corinthians 10:13

But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. NOT BOAST OF THINGS WITHOUT OUR MEASURE, [ eis (G1519) ta (G3588) ametra (G280)] - 'to unmeasured bounds'. There is no limit to a man's self-conceit so long as he measures himself by himself (2 Corinthians 10:13) and his fellows, and not with his superiors. It marks the personal character of this letter that "boast" occurs 29 times in it, and only 26 times in all the other letters. Undeterred by the charge of vanity, he must vindicate his apostolic author...

13._But we will not boast beyond our measure _He now contrasts his own moderation with the folly of the false Apostles, (780) and, at the same time, he shows what is the true measure of glorying — when we keep within the limits that have been marked out for us by the Lord. “Has the Lord given me such a thing? I shall be satisfied with this measure. I shall not either desire or claim to myself any thing more.” This he calls the _measure of his rule. _(781) For every one’s rule, according to which he ought to regulate himself is this — God’s gift and calling. At the same time, it is not lawful for us to glow in God’s gift and calling on our own account, but merely in so far as it is expedient for the glory of him, who is so liberal to us with this view — that we may acknowledge ourselves indebted to him for everything. (782) A m

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 10:13. _THINGS WITHOUT_ OUR _MEASURE_] There is a great deal of difficulty in this and the three following verses, and there is a great diversity among the MSS.; and _which_ is the _true reading_ can scarcely be determined. Our version is perhaps the plainest that can be made of the text. By the _measure_ mentioned here, it seems as if the apostle meant the commission he received from God to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles; _a measure_ or _district_ that extended through all Asia Minor and Greece, down to Achaia, where Corinth was situated, _a measure to reach even unto you_. But the expressions in these verses are all agonistical, and taken from the stadium or race course in the Olympic and Isthmian games. The μετρον, or _measure_, was the length of the δρομος, or _course_; and the κανων,...

BUT WE WILL NOT BOAST OF THINGS WITHOUT OUR MEASURE - Tyndale renders this:” But we will not rejoice above measure.” There is great obscurity in the language here, arising from its brevity. But the general idea seems to be plain. Paul says that he had not boldness as they had to boast of things wholly beyond his proper rule and his actual attainments and influence: and, especially, that he was not disposed to enter into other people’s labors; or to boast of things that had been done by the mere influence of his name, and beyond the proper limits of his personal exertions. He made no boast of having done anything where he had not been himself on the ground and labored assiduously to secure the object. They, it is not improbable, had boasted of what had been done in Corinth as though it were really their work though it had been done by the apostle himself. Nay more, it is probable that the...

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

BUT WE WILL NOT BOAST OF THINGS WITHOUT OUR MEASURE,.... Or things unmeasurable; meaning not doctrines, the knowledge of which they had not attained to, and which were not to be measured by reason or revelation, such as the Gnostics boasted of; but the sense is, that they would not glory in, and boast of actions, that were never done by them, within the compass of their ministration, as the false apostles did; who pretended that they had been everywhere, and had preached the Gospel, and had made converts in all parts of the world; but the apostle and his fellow labourer, desired only to speak of those things which were done of them, and of their successful labours: ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE RULE; not the measure of the gift of Christ, or of faith bestowed upon them; nor the measuring rule and canon of the Scriptures, though both are truths; but the places or parts of the world, wh...

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