2 Corinthians 10:17

10:12-18 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 which cometh from God only.

But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Not in himself, nor in his outward circumstances of life, or inward endowments of mind; not in his natural or acquired parts; not in his wisdom, knowledge, learning, and eloquence; nor in his own righteousness, labours, and services, much less in other men's labours; nor in his own sense of himself; nor in the opinion and popular applause of others; but in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the author and donor of all gifts, natural and spiritual; in his wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; and in his judgment and approbation of men and things, which sense the following words direct unto.

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 . But he that glorieth — Whether it be of planting or watering the churches; let him glory in the Lord — Not in himself, but in the power, love, and faithfulness of the Lord, who only can render any man’s labours successful. Let every minister remember it is to Christ that he owes all his ability for his work, and all his success in it. For not he that commendeth himself — With the greatest confidence, or boasts of any thing done by his power, or has a good opinion of himself, on account of any service he has performed; is approved — As faithful and sincere; but whom the Lord commendeth — By conferring on him the gifts and graces of his Spirit, and by blessing his labours. Let those, therefore, who are so ready to applaud themselves and each other, maturely consider this, and learn to be more solicitous than they are about approving themselves to their great Master, whether they be more or less regarded by their fellow- servants.

But we have none of us any thing to glory in, neither I Paul who plant, nor Apollos who watereth; whether God maketh use of us as the first planters of the gospel, or as instruments to carry on the work of the gospel already planted, we have nothing of our own to glory in. God giveth the increase; we have therefore no reason to glory in ourselves, or in our own performances, but only to give thanks to God, who maketh use of us, poor earthly vessels, to carry about and distribute that heavenly treasure, by which he maketh souls rich in faith and good works: all that we do is only instrumentally; God is all, and in all, as to primary efficiency.

2 Corinthians 10:17 . Ὁ δὲ , but he who ) He hereby in some measure sounds a retreat; and yet by this very clause of after-mitigation,[72] he again gives a blow to the false apostles.— ἐν Κυρίῳ , in the Lord ) and therefore with the approval of the Lord [ 2 Corinthians 10:18 ]. [72] See App., under the tit. EPITHERAPIA.

2 Corinthians 10:17 . ὁ δὲ καυχώμενος κ . τ . λ .: but he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord , a quotation from the O.T. (see reff.) used before by St. Paul ( cf. also Romans 15:18 , 1 Corinthians 3:7 ). For not he that commendeth himself is approved ( cf. Proverbs 27:2 ), but whom the Lord commendeth ( cf. Romans 2:29 , 1 Corinthians 4:5 ). And the Corinthian Church itself is his “letter of commendation” ( 2 Corinthians 3:2 ).

17. But he that glorieth ] See note on 2 Corinthians 10:8 . This passage occurs in 1 Corinthians 1:31 , where it is prefaced by the words ‘it is written.’ It is in fact a paraphrase of Jeremiah 9:24 . Meyer remarks that a noble example of this kind of glorying is given by St Paul himself in 1 Corinthians 15:10 . Cf. also ch. 2 Corinthians 12:10 .

(17) He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. —Better, He that boasteth, the English translators having again yielded to their besetting weakness for variation. On the general meaning of the phrase, which has been used before, see Note on 1Corinthians 1:31 . Here it has a more special force. “To boast in the Lord” was to boast as in the sight of Christ of that of which the boaster thought as done, not by himself, but by Christ as dwelling in him.

But he that glorieth - He that boasts. Whatever may be the occasion of his boasting, whether in planting churches or in watering them; whether in his purposes, plans, toils, or success. Paul himself did not deem it improper on some occasions to boast 2 Corinthians 11:16 ; 2 Corinthians 12:5 , but it was not of his own power, attainments, or righteousness. He was disposed to trace all to the Lord, and to regard him as the source of all blessing and all success. Let him glory in the Lord - In this serious and weighty admonition, Paul designs, doubtless, to express the manner in which he was accustomed to glory, and to furnish an admonition to the Corinthians. In the previous part of the chapter there had been some severe irony. He closes the chapter with the utmost seriousness and solemnity of manner, in order to show on his part that he was not disposed to glory in his own attainments and to admonish them not to boast of theirs. If they had anything valuable they should regard the Lord as the author of it.