2 Corinthians 10:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The meaning of these words is this: "I could boast, but lest they again say that I magnify myself in my letters, while in person I am nothing, I shall say nothing great about myself."

True, later he did speak, yet not about the power by which he was fearsome, but about revelations, and still more about temptations. "Therefore, lest it seem that I am frightening you, let such a one know this: as we are in word by letters when absent, so we are also in deed when present."

Since they said of him that in his letters he wrote many great things about himself, while in person he was of no account, he speaks the words cited above. Yet again he does so with great modesty.

"For we dare not class or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves." Here he shows that they are boasters and praise themselves excessively. Thus he says that we dare not class ourselves, that is, number ourselves, or compare ourselves, that is, set ourselves over against those among them who exalt themselves with praises.

"But they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, do not understand." They do not deign, he says, to compare themselves with anyone else, but measure themselves by themselves. They compete among themselves and do not perceive how ridiculous they become.

For each, considering himself better than the others, belittles another. Thus all become glorious before one another. They themselves do not understand how ridiculous this is.

They err chiefly and prefer to walk by a false, roundabout path rather than by the true and straight one. This is because by their human, changeable, and limited mind they measure the divine Mind, which is wholly unchangeable.

That Mind encompasses every infinity and counts all things countless without any change of thoughts. What the Apostle says happens to them: they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, not understanding.

When it occurs to them to do something new, they do it by a new decision, since they have a changeable mind. So also with God, whom they cannot comprehend. Instead of Him they imagine themselves. They compare not Him with Himself, but themselves, and not with Him, but with themselves.

For we do not dare to place ourselves beside, or compare ourselves with, certain men who present themselves to you as famous. Rather, we humble ourselves even in comparison with what we truly are. And if we do compare and measure ourselves, we compare and measure ourselves with ourselves, that is, with our own nothingness. The corresponding words of the text are evidently interpreted so that they, the blasphemers, do not know how to measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves.

Those are measuring themselves by themselves who, not having received authority, wish to rule in their own name. Sent to fulfill a mission, he explains that his authority is not from himself, but from the One who sent him on the mission. Through this the Apostle Paul shows that he is a steward chosen by God. Thus he admits nothing above what he himself has been given through his mission, and does not join himself to those who are not sent by God, yet preach.

The Apostle wrote this passage very obscurely, not wishing to expose the guilty plainly. He means the following: looking at themselves, they supposed that they alone were greater than all. But as for us, far be it from us to evaluate ourselves as they do. He makes this clearer in the words that follow.

Whenever you reflect on the perfection of virtues, do not think that others have less of them than you. Rather, begin from the fact that you have less than you ought to have.

You must not think that you are perfect in virtue when you see a woman given over to sins. Therefore you must not rely hastily on yourself when you see some woman falling away from the faith or walking unsteadily.

A man with festering eyes cannot be called healthy merely because a blind man is wholly cut off from the light. A half-dead man with a grievous wound cannot be called healthy merely because another is dying from a more serious wound.

“We do not dare to judge or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.” In exposing the cunning and pride of his revilers, the Apostle shows that they praise themselves and compare themselves with themselves, which the Apostle does not wish to do.

Saint Paul is authorized to severity by his apostolic calling (2 Cor 10:12-12:18). The Apostle defends and proves the certainty of this high calling by pointing to the preaching portion appointed to him by God Himself (2 Cor 10:12-18). “We are not like those who put themselves forward, boastfully and self-appointed. We do not stretch ourselves as though we had not reached you, for we reached even you with the Gospel of Christ, so as to preach the Gospel beyond you, and not to boast in what is ready in another’s portion.”

Entering into a further comparison of himself with others, the Apostle shows his apostolic dignity in his labors. This dignity authorizes him for severity. First of all, the Corinthians themselves are the portion of his great labors, which he hopes to increase still more as the fruits of Christian preaching increase among them.

Meanwhile his opponents have no labors, but only self-praise without any higher foundation. Therefore they are content with comparing themselves with one another. The pagan philosophers of Greece acted so, and so did certain false apostles.

True preachers have the basis for praise not in themselves, but in God, and in the measure to which they fulfill His appointment.

This passage is somewhat obscure, as Blessed Theodoret also observes: "The Apostle wrote this passage very unclearly, because he did not wish to expose the guilty openly. He means the following: looking at themselves, they supposed that they alone were greater than all. As for us, far be it from us to assess ourselves as they do."

St. Chrysostom says: "Here the Apostle shows that they are vainglorious and boastful. He reproves them for praising themselves. But we, he says, do not act in this way. If we do anything great, we ascribe it all to God.

"He says, 'We dare not compare ourselves with those who contend with one another and boast, yet do not understand what they are doing.' That is, they do not see how ridiculous they are when they boast and exalt themselves before one another."