2 Corinthians 10:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After rebuking those who deceived the Corinthians, he does not stop his speech with them. He passes from the deceivers to those deceived. This is always his way: he rebukes not only the authors of error, but also those led into error.

If he had not held the latter responsible too, what was said to others would not have corrected them so easily. They would even have become proud, as though they were free from accusation. Therefore he rebukes them also.

This alone is not worthy of wonder in Paul, but also that he uses rebukes proper to both groups. Listen to what he says to those who fell into deception: "Do you look at outward appearance?"

This is no small accusation, but a very great one. Why? Because the human race very easily falls into deception.

The meaning of his words is this: "You judge by appearance, by fleshly and bodily considerations." What does "by appearance" mean?

If someone is rich, if someone is puffed up, if someone is surrounded by a crowd of flatterers, if someone praises himself and seeks empty glory, or if someone hypocritically pretends to virtue while not having virtue within him, this is what the words mean: "Do you look at outward appearance?"

"If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him judge this again from himself: that as he is Christ's, so also are we Christ's."

The apostle does not wish to show himself severe all at once, but little by little he strengthens and elevates his speech.

See what sharpness of expression and richness of meaning are here. By the expression "from himself," he wishes to say this: "Let him not wait to learn this from us, that is, from our reproach of him.

"Let him judge for himself that, as he is Christ's, so are we also." This does not mean that the other is Christ's in the same way. It means: "As he is Christ's, so I also am Christ's.

"In this we are equal. It cannot be said that he is Christ's, while I belong to someone else."

He also teaches that "whoever is confident in himself that he is Christ's can judge by himself that Paul also is Christ's." Apostolic authority was given to him not for disorder, but for edification.

"And let anyone who doubts our power and authority know," the Apostle adds, "that as we are in word by letters when absent, so we are also in deed when present."

At the same time he makes clear that, although such authority is always present in him, he uses it as it was entrusted to him: not for destruction, but for edification.

This is why he does not always manifest it, but first tries other measures of correction.

St. John Chrysostom says: "Although it is impossible to express how great an authority he had, he nevertheless does not show his superiority in words.

"Yet if anyone persists, we shall cast him down and overthrow him. Therefore he adds, 'I shall not be put to shame,' that is, I shall prove neither a liar nor vainglorious."

"Do you see how he again calms the envy that his self-praise might have stirred up? He draws the hearer to himself by pointing to the benefit for which he received authority.

"This is especially the way of edification: to destroy obstacles and to use for building only what is true."

I say this without yet pointing to my special appointment, which I personally received from Christ the Lord Himself, and of which my accusers cannot boast at all. But this will be discussed in the next verse.

Saint Chrysostom enters more deeply into Saint Paul's intentions here and says: "Among all other things, this too is especially admirable in Paul.

"When placed under great necessity to praise himself, he attains a double aim. He praises himself, and at the same time, by such self-praise, he does not become burdensome to others.

"It is difficult and requires great prudence both to preserve modesty and to say something great about oneself. See with what dignity he does this here.

"'Do you look at things according to outward appearance?' he says. Having reproved those who deceived the Corinthians, he does not stop his discourse with them, but passes from them to those who were deceived.

"He always acts in this way. He reproves not only the authors of error, but also those led into error by them.

"If he had not made these also responsible, then what was said to the others would not so easily have corrected them. They would even have become proud, as though not subject to reproof.

"Therefore he reproves them also. Not only this is admirable in Paul, but especially that he uses reproofs fitting for both groups.

"Hear what he says to those who yielded to deception: 'Do you look at things according to outward appearance?' This is no small reproof, but a very weighty one.

"Why? Because the human race very easily falls into deception. The meaning of his words is this: Do you judge by externals, by fleshly and bodily relations?

"What does 'according to outward appearance' mean? If someone is rich, if someone is grand, if many flatterers surround him, if someone praises himself and seeks empty glory,

"if someone hypocritically pretends to be virtuous while having no virtue in himself, then he is great among you and worthy of attention.

"This is what the words mean: 'Do you look at things according to outward appearance?' 'If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider again within himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we Christ's.'

"The Apostle does not wish to show himself severe all at once. Little by little he raises and strengthens his discourse.

"See how what he says from himself becomes especially keen and full of meaning. 'Within himself' means: let him not wait to learn this from us, that is, from our rebuke to him.

"Let him judge this by himself, that as he is Christ's, so are we. He did not say, 'I am as much Christ's as he is,' but, 'as he is Christ's, so I too am Christ's.'

"In this we are equal. For one cannot say that he belongs to Christ while I belong to someone else. But having shown this equality, he also sets forth his advantage, saying:"