12For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. 13But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. 14For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; 15not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, 16so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. 17But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. 18For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.
This scripture is full with many points Paul was trying to convey. The only way to fully understand it is to dissect it. I relied on David Guzik commentary for understanding to convey to you it's meaning. I pray you take the time to read it.
Excerpts from David Guzik commentary;
Measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves: This explains why these carnal Corinthian critics of Paul could think so highly of themselves. In their worldly ways of thinking, they just measured themselves by themselves, and only compared themselves among themselves.
i. This means two things. First, it means making yourself the measure of others. Second, it means making others the measure of yourself.
ii. This was wrong for at least two reasons. First, there did not seem to be a lot of really spiritual people among the Corinthian Christians to give a good comparison to! How much of a compliment could it have been to be the most spiritual person among the Corinthians? Secondly, it was wrong because it just measured on a human scale, focused on outward appearance. When we let the Holy Spirit measure us through God's Word, He measures us on God's scale, and He looks at the heart.
a. Within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us: Paul's authority in the church was not unlimited. God had granted him a sphere of authority, and that sphere included the Corinthian Christians, especially since he had founded that church (for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ).
Why is Paul stressing the point that he has not, and will not, take authority in another man's sphere? Probably because that is exactly what his opponents among the Corinthian Christians were doing. They were trying to boast in Paul's sphere of accomplishment.
i. Instead, Paul's passion was to preach the gospel in the regions beyond. He was not interested in building on another man's foundation, and trying to horn in on someone else's sphere of authority.
ii. "It is base, abominable, and deeply sinful, for a man to thrust himself into other men's labours, and by sowing doubtful disputations among a Christian people, distract and divide them, than he may get a party to himself … This is an evil that has prevailed much in all ages of the Church; there is at present much of it in the Christian world, and Christianity is disgraced by it." (Clarke)
a. He who glories, let him glory in the LORD: By using this quotation from Jeremiah 9:24, Paul is rebuking the Corinthian Christians who were finding their glory either in Paul, or against Paul. Paul sweeps all that away, showing we should not glory in ourselves, in another, or against another - we should only glory in the LORD.
ii. The great thing about glorying in the LORD is that we can always do it. No one is so high that they cannot glory in the LORD. No one is so low that they cannot glory in the LORD. We can all glory in the LORD!
ii. "In the Christian Church, indeed, self-commendation should be viewed with suspicion as a mark of disqualification." (Hughes)
May we follow Paul's examples in this text, with a pure heart, yielding to the Holy Spirit and the teachings of Jesus Christ giving glory to God in everything.
More at this link:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/studyguide_2cr/2cr_10.cfm
Blessings, David
Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com
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