2 Corinthians 10:12 Commentary and Bible Study

There is a gentle sarcasm in verse 12 which we do not really expect in the apostle Paul but it is very gently done: ‘For we dare not make ourselves of the number’ – we dare not be like them – ‘or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves.’ It is complex in our rendering. ‘But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.’ And that is a fantastic understatement. They are in fact very foolish.These false teachers: number one, they commend themselves. ‘We are the people, we are great people. We come with great credentials. We know what we are talking about. We are excellent speakers.’ But Paul says, ‘We dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves’, always praising themselves. ‘But they measuring themselves by themselves.’ They give each other ranks. They commend each other. They use human judgement: ‘Isn’t he a wonderful speaker? Isn’t he a wonderful singer? Isn’t he a wonderful composer? Clap him, isn’t he marvellous.’ That is the modern Charismatic and modern worship movement, all over. But if you read the apostle Paul, it is transparently phoney and fleshly and worldly, like the Corinthian false teachers: people on the make, people after applause.‘And comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.’ If only we could feel the power of that – they are very foolish. It is the greatest understatement in the book. They are destitute of wisdom. They do not know what they are doing. They are showing how phoney they are. That is the sense of the passage.