2 Corinthians 10:12–18

Verse 12. and so forth The following verses to the end of the chapter, are equally obscure, both in the Greek and Latin text.—We dare not rank or compare ourselves, and so forth He seems to write this ironically, by way of mocking at those, who commended and preferred themselves before others. But I will not compare myself with others, but will only compare [2] myself with myself, to shew that my actions agree with my words and my letters.—We will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath measured to us, a measure to reach even to you. Here he speaks of a measure, and a rule. By the measure, with which God measured to him, he means the places and countries, in which he, and the other apostles were appointed to preach, and plant the gospel: and by the rule also prescribed him, he means that it was given him as a rule not to preach, where other ministers of Christ had preached. When he says, therefore, we will not glory beyond our measure, [3] or (as it is implied in the Greek) of things out of the measure, the sense is, I will not, like false preachers, pretend to have preached in places out of my province, or which were not measured out to me, nor have we extended ourselves farther than we ought to have done, when we came to you, for you were within our measure. Nor have I transgressed the rule, because others had not preached to you before me, so that I have not boasted in other men’s labours. But as your faith is growing, and increasing, when I have sufficiently settled the gospel among you, I hope my measure may be enlarged, and that without breaking the settled rule, I may preach also to people and places beyond you. This is what seems to be understood by these words, to be enlarged or magnified, even to an abundance, and yet not to glory in other men’s labours, but to glory in the Lord only, and in what we do, as we have been directed, and assisted by him. Witham.

Verse 13. The apostle here reprehends the vain boasting of false teachers. I will not, like them, say, that I have carried the light of the gospel to the utmost limits of the globe, that I have converted millions of men, avoided an infinity of dangers, performed many miracles, and so forth No: I confine myself to the part assigned me by God. I will only glory in having come even to you. This I can do with justice, and without arrogance. Each one has his share, his measure, or his part to cultivate in the vineyard of Christ. Calmet, and V.

Verse 16. The words, measure, rule, and so forth signify through the whole of this chapter a share, or an allotment of any place to cultivate. Saint Paul never gloried like the persons whom he is here blaming, that he entered into other men’s labours. But still neither those persons who have come to you, nor we who first preached the gospel to you, have any right to glory, except in God alone. Calmet.—We still hope, that your faith every day increasing, we shall be able to extend our measure much further, and carry the gospel to nations far beyond you, without interfering with any other, by glorying of having built on what they had already prepared. V.