2 Corinthians 10:7-18

Caution to those who judge by outward appearance

7. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? The words here translated outward appearanceare translated when I am presentin 2 Corinthians 10:2. They may be rendered in three ways, (1) as in the text, (2) ye look on things after the outward appearance, or (3) as some interpreters prefer to render, look at what lies plainly before your eyes, i.e. the genuineness of St Paul's Apostolic mission. The Vulgate and Rhemish versions render thus. So also Wiclif, See ye the thingis that ben aftir the face. Either (1) or (2) is preferable to (3), which not only does not suit the context (cf. also 1 Corinthians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 3:21, and John 7:24, where however the Greek is not the same as here, and 2 Corinthians 8:15), but is contrary to the spirit of St Paul's writings, which invariably glorify what does notlie on the surface, at the expense of what doesso. The meaning of the last of the three renderings is that if the Corinthians regard their teachers from an exclusively fleshly point of view, St Paul has no need to shrink from the comparison. Cf. ch. 2 Corinthians 11:18-33.

as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's St Paul proceeds to give four proofs of this. He shews (1) that he was unquestionably the founder of the Corinthian Church (2 Corinthians 10:13, cf. 1 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Corinthians 9:2, and ch. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3); (2) that if he refused to be maintained by them, it was for no other reason than his desire for their benefit (ch. 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, cf. 1 Corinthians 9:12; 1 Corinthians 9:15; 1 Corinthians 9:18); (3) that his life was a sufficient proof of his sincerity (ch. 2 Corinthians 11:21-33); and (4) that the supernatural revelations vouchsafed to him were vouchers for his inspiration (ch. 2 Corinthians 12:1-6).