Fathers

2 Corinthians 10

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Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

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What the Fathers say

2 Corinthians 10:12

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"For we are not bold to number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves." Here he both shows that those false Apostles are boasters and say great things of themselves: and ridicules them as commending themselves. 'But we do no such thing: but even if we shall do any thing great, we refer all unto God, and compare ourselves with one another.' Wherefore also he added, "But they themselves measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are without understanding." Now what he says is this: 'we …

Homily 22 on 2 Corinthians ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Here he shows that they are boasters and praise themselves too much. So, he says, "we do not dare to classify," that is, to number, "or compare," that is, to set ourselves against those among them who exalt themselves with praises. They, he says, do not deign to compare themselves with any other people, but measure themselves by themselves, compete among themselves, and do not realize how ridiculous they are as a result. …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

The fundamental fallacy of these men, who prefer to walk in roundabout error than keep to the straight path of truth, is that they have nothing but their own tiny, changing, human minds to measure the divine mind, infinitely capacious and utterly immutable, a mind that can count uncountable things without passing from one to the next. Such men, to use the words of the apostle, "comparing themselves with themselves," end by understanding nothing. …

City of God 12.17 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, Not that we venture, he indicates the reason behind what he says, saying: I say that we are not like the false apostles, nor is the charge they lay against us true, because I do not say any more than I have to say. Hence, he says: Not that we venture, i.e., say that we are one of them, to class or compare ourselves with, i.e., make ourselves like some, that is, the false apostles who commend themselves to you only. And yet they are not commended by others and by their deeds contrary to what is stated in Prov. …

Commentary on 2 Corinthians ↗