ACC ~ 2 Corinthians 10 v13 - 18

OVERVIEW:

Paul is modest, but not to the point where he neglects to tell the truth about himself. There was a real danger that the disciples might be persuaded to have a low opinion of Paul precisely because of his modesty. Paul did not seek human praise, but when he was accused of being a braggart he defended himself (CHRYSOSTOM). One who has confidence in the power of the gospel has confidence in the God who enables it (AMBROSIASTER). Paul accuses the false apostles not merely of boasting too much but also of claiming the credit for other people’s labors (CHRYSOSTOM).

10:13 | Keeping to God’s Limits

POWER CONDUCIVE TO SALVATION. AMBROSIASTER: Paul takes advantage of his authority only to the extent that he glories in the progress of believers, so that his power may be conducive to salvation and not self-aggrandizement. He did not boast beyond the power that was given to him, nor did he claim any authority in places where his preaching had not been heard. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

EXCESSIVE BOASTING. CHRYSOSTOM: Excessive boasting was evidently a characteristic of the false apostles. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 22.2.

10:14 | Reaching Them with the Gospel

NOT OVEREXTENDED. AMBROSIASTER: Paul did not go too far in what he was doing but stayed within the limits set for his task by God. He makes this explicit here so that the Corinthians will know that God has sent him to them and so they ought to obey his warnings. Otherwise they might appear to be resisting God, by whom Paul was sent. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

10:15 | As Faith Increases

NO EXCESSIVE PRIDE. AMBROSIASTER: Someone who takes pride in his own work is not being excessively proud of himself. A prudent man does not rely on the labors of others. This is why Paul does not claim any credit for those who have come to faith by the preaching of other evangelists. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

OTHERS’ LABOR. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul accuses the false apostles not merely of boasting too much but also of claiming the credit for other people’s labors. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 22.3.

10:16 | Preaching in Other Lands

GLORY FROM HIS LABOR. AMBROSIASTER: What Paul wants is to preach the gospel to those to whom the message has not yet been given, so that God will be glorified by his labor. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

10:17 | Boasting of the Lord

BY THE LORD’S FAVOR. AMBROSIASTER: By saying this Paul intimates that even his assurance and pride are to be given to the Lord, because it is by his favor that he has them. Someone who has confidence in the power of the gospel has confidence in the God who enables it. Thus God is glorified by all godly work. A person who has not received power from God cannot glory in the Lord, because he is seeking his own glory. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

10:18 | One the Lord Commends

SENT AND COMMENDED. AMBROSIASTER: God does not commend someone whom he does not send. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

PROPER MODESTY. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul did not claim this for himself but left it to the Lord. Paul is modest, but not to the point where he neglects to tell the truth about himself. It is possible to do harm by ill-timed modesty or to do good by saying something admirable of oneself at the right time. There was a real danger that the disciples might be persuaded to have a low opinion of Paul, precisely because of his modesty. Paul did not seek human praise, but when he was accused of being a braggart he defended himself. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 23.3.

PAUL’S APPARENT FOOLISHNESS 2 CORINTHIANS 11:1-6

OVERVIEW: Paul uses heavy irony to make his point. What he is about to say he says out of love for the Corinthians (AMBROSIASTER), even to the point of jealousy. For God is said to be jealous, not in a human way but that everyone may know that he claims sovereign rights over those whom he loves and does what he does for their exclusive benefit (CHRYSOSTOM). They are to be regarded as spouses of Christ in their faith, hope and love (AUGUSTINE), provided they are willing to preserve both bodily chastity and virginity of heart (ORIGEN, NOVATIAN, AUGUSTINE, CAESARIUS OF ARLES). He is afraid that they will be led astray like the serpent who deceived Eve by lying to her about God, saying that God merely threatened humanity with death but would never kill anyone (PELAGIUS, AMBROSIASTER). What probably happened was that false teachers appeared from elsewhere and added to what the apostles had already taught. Their claim would have been that the apostles had not said all that there was to say, which Paul is at pains to deny (CHRYSOSTOM). In reference to “unskilled speech,” he did not mean that he did not know how to speak but that commendation did not depend on mere eloquence (AMBROSIASTER, JEROME, CHRYSOSTOM).