2 Corinthians 10:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What then did he say? "Even if I should somewhat more." Although one cannot express how great an authority he had, in his words he diminishes it.

Nor did he say, "I boast," but, "if I should boast," meaning, "if I wish to boast." In this way he both preserves modesty and shows his superiority.

"For even if I should," he says, "boast of the authority which the Lord gave" me. Again he attributes everything to God and makes the gift common, saying, "for edification and not for destruction."

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.

How then does he say, "we overthrow reasonings"? This is especially a form of edification: to remove obstacles, expose what is rotten, and establish only what is true.

"For edification." "Therefore, we received authority in order to build. Yet if someone persists, resists, and gives no hope of correction, we shall use another power: 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."

Therefore, if I wish to boast that God has granted me more, so that I have authority first to benefit and, in case of resistance, to punish, I shall not be put to shame. That is, I shall not appear a liar or a proud man.

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."

This is why I do not always manifest it. If I do manifest it, I do so cautiously, after trying every measure of correction.

"The Apostle said that he received authority for edification and not for destruction, showing that his opponents act contrary to this. They do not wish to build, but attempt to destroy the labors of others" (Theodoret).

Such thoughts are contained in the Apostle's words, but he expresses them somewhat veiledly, so as not to appear to put himself forward too sharply.

St. Chrysostom says: "See how he softens his speech when he is about to say something great about himself. Nothing is so offensive to many hearers as self-praise.

"Therefore, removing what is offensive, he says: 'For even if I should boast somewhat more.' He did not say: if anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider that he is still far below us.

"Nor did he say: I received from the Lord such great authority that I can punish and hand over to death whomever I wish. What then did he say? 'Even if somewhat more.'

"Although one cannot express how great an authority he had, he does not show this in his words. Nor did he say, 'I boast,' but, 'if I should boast,' that is, if I wish to boast.

"In this way he both preserves modesty and shows his superiority. Therefore he says: 'If I should boast of our authority, which the Lord gave us.' Again he attributes everything to God and makes the gift common.

"'For edification and not for destruction.' Do you see how again he calms the envy that self-praise might have stirred up? He draws the hearer to himself by pointing to the benefit for which he received authority.

"How then did he say above, 'overthrowing reasonings'? This is especially the way of edification: to remove obstacles, expose what is rotten, and use for building only what is true.

"Therefore, although we received authority in order to build, if someone persists, resists, and gives no hope of correction, we shall also use another power. 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."