2 Corinthians 10:16

To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. TO - i:e., so as to preach ... beyond you (and) not to boast, etc. IN ANOTHER MAN'S LINE OF THINGS MADE READY TO OUR HAND. Do not connect "line of things," etc.; but 'boast of things,' etc. Arrange, 'Not to boast as to things (already made by the preaching of others) ready to our hand in another man's line' (i:e., within the sphere apportioned by God to another)....

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 16. _TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN THE_ REGIONS _BEYOND YOU_] He probably refers to those parts of the _Morea_, such as _Sparta_, c., that lay _southward_ of them and to _Italy_, which lay on the _west_; for it does not appear that he considered his _measure_ or _province_ to extend to _Libya_, or any part of _Africa_. See the Introduction, sec. xii. _NOT TO BOAST IN ANOTHER MAN'S LINE_] So very scrupulous was the apostle not to build on another man's foundation, that he would not even go to those places where other apostles were labouring. He appears to think that every apostle had a particular _district_ or _province_ of the heathen world allotted to him, and which God commissioned him to convert to the Christian faith. No doubt every apostle was influenced in the same way; and this was a wise order of God; for by these means the Gospel was more _quickly_ sp

TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN THE REGIONS BEYOND YOU - What regions are referred to here can be only a matter of conjecture. It may be that he wished to preach in other parts of Greece, and that he designed to go to Arcadia or Lacedaemon. Rosenmuller supposes that as the Corinthians were engaged in commerce, the apostle hoped that by them some tidings of the gospel would reach the countries with which they were engaged in traffic. But I think it most probable that he alludes to Italy and Spain. It is certain that he had formed the design of visiting Spain Romans 15:24, Romans 15:28; and he doubtless wished the Corinthians to aid him in that purpose, and was anxious to do this as soon as the condition of the eastern churches would allow it. And

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

TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN THE REGIONS BEYOND YOU,.... Here the apostle clearly expresses what he hoped for, and explains what he meant by being enlarged according to rule; namely, that he should be at liberty to preach the Gospel elsewhere; and hoped he should be directed by the providence of God, to carry it into the more remote and distant parts of the world, where as yet Christ had not been named: AND NOT TO BOAST IN ANOTHER MAN'S LINE: or enter into another man's province, glory in other men's labours, as did the false apostles: and boast OF THINGS MADE READY TO OUR HAND; that is, of places cultivated and improved, by the preaching of the Gospel, so as to bring forth fruit to the honour and glory of God; where many souls were already converted, and churches were planted and put into good order, and were in a flourishing condition; see Romans 15:18.

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

PAUL BEGINS TO ANSWER HIS CRITICS (2 Corinthians 10:1-6)...

PREACH THE GOSPEL Greek. _euangetizo._ App-121. IN. unto. Greek. _eis,_ as above. BEYOND. Greek. _huperekeina._ Only here. ANOTHER MAN'S. Greek. _allotrios,_ as in 2 Corinthians 10:15. LINE. Same as "rule", 2 Corinthians 10:13....