2 Corinthians 10:18

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

The outstanding feature of Paul's ministry was that, unlike his arrogant opponents, he had confined himself to the work with which he had been charged and had riot meddled in the affairs of others. With a fine display of irony he writes: For we do riot venture to assume the same dignity, to number ourselves or compare ourselves with certain ones that commend themselves. He simply does not possess the courage to class himself with the people that are so highly satisfied and well pleased with themselves: his timidity would not permit him to place himself in the same line, on the same level. But he immediately points out the foolishness of his enemies' position: But they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise. The weakness of their position is shown by the fact that they have no standard by which to measure their accomplishments in a proper manner; they know no measure but their own opinion, and therefore their smug self-satisfaction is bound to reach a false judgment. So Paul leaves them in the folly of their self-adulation; any effort in their behalf seems wasted from the outset.

In sharp contrast he says of himself: But we shall not boast beyond measure or without the application of a proper standard, but according to the measure of the rule which God has apportioned to us for a measure, to reach even to you. Unlike his opponents, who had no standard, no criterion, to guide them but their own self-satisfaction, which prevented their obtaining a proper judgment of things, Paul had a definite rule and sphere of activity, by and in which he could gauge his performances in his ministry. He had a sphere of influence, an official duty, assigned to him by God A certain territory had been apportioned to him to labor in, and for the work performed in this sphere he did not look for praise based upon imaginary excellence, but such as was given according to the standard set by the Lord. It was thus, by that arrangement of God, that Paul's measure extended even to Corinth, at that time the extreme western limit of Paul's preaching. Thus he was not building upon another man's foundation, Romans 15:20, he was not expecting praise for work which he had not performed himself, 1 Corinthians 3:10. And so far as Corinth was concerned, the Lord Himself had confirmed him for the ministerial work in that city in a very unusual manner, Acts 18:9.

This thought is carried out in further detail in the next verses: For not as though we reached not unto you do we stretch ourselves beyond our measure. When Paul came to Corinth and did his missionary work in that city, he was not presuming upon rights and arrogating to himself a field which did not belong to him. That fact would have rendered his boasting vain and blamable, namely, if the Lord had not given him this field to work in. But as things stood in reality, Paul came as far as unto the Corinthians in the Gospel of Christ, and he came as the first missionary that labored in their midst, the Gospel of Christ being the element in which he moved and the message he delighted to proclaim. So Paul was right in maintaining that he was not boasting beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, a possibility which he always avoided with the greatest care, Romans 15:20. And so he also had the hope, that, when their faith had grown, or in the measure in which their faith was growing, he would be magnified in them, that is, he would be given proper credit for the labor which he had done for the Lord in their midst. And not only that, but he would also be assisted by their growing congregations, with their growing faith and lore, to accomplish further and more important results. With their growing faith and the corresponding increase of his power to perform his duties he would be able to press on and enlarge the sphere of his labors, to preach the Gospel in regions even beyond them, where it was as yet unknown, in Western Greece, in Italy, in Spain. At all times, then, he would not boast of things prepared for his hands in another's line, he had no intention, as his opponents had done, of appropriating to himself the fruits of other men's labors and thus of arrogating to himself an unearned reputation for greatness. This statement also took away all the glory from his enemies, as though they were indispensable in Corinth, for the congregation was in Paul's apostolic care and was being prepared without the lack of any gift of mercy.

In conclusion, Paul reminds the Corinthians of the prophetical saying: But he that boasts, in the Lord let him boast, Jeremiah 9:24. That is the general rule in the Church. There may be times and circumstances when glorying becomes a necessity, but it should never be done in such a way as unduly to put forward the boaster's own person. All glory belongs to God alone and must be given to Him at all times. For not he that commends himself is approved, but he whom the Lord commends. Any Christian that parades himself and his own attainments in the Church; any preacher that proclaims himself and not Jesus Christ the Lord, will find himself censured instead of praised. Only he that has received the testimony of the Lord as a faithful minister, as had Paul, chap. 3:1-3, may feel that he had the proper credentials from the Lord. "God lauds and praises only those that reject all praise given them, and direct it to God, that do not want people to see their works, but want nothing but that their Father in heaven be praised, whose name they love. For that reason God lauds and honors them in return."

Summary

Paul entreats and begs the Corinthians not to force him to use severity, since his apostolic authority is real and powerful and his mission is entrusted to him by the Lord.