2 Corinthians 10:12

We dare not. In vs. 12-18 Paul exalts his labors as a gospel minister. In this epistle he repeatedly defends his integrity as an apostle (chs. 3:1; 4:2; 5:12; 12:11). Now he subtly compares his opponents’ conceited and vainglorious boasting with his own circumspect labors while at Corinth. He turns the tables on his opponents by a clever play on the words egkrino and sugkrino (see below).

Paul evidently refers to the charge of cowardice. If his opponents mean that he lacks the courage to assert himself and be a real leader in the popular sense, he readily admits the charge. Furthermore, he neither cares nor dares to seek the plaudits of men. The conceited boldness his opponents have shown has no appeal for him. But there is one kind of courage he does not lack (ch. 11:21-30), the courage to press into new lands with the gospel and the courage to suffer for Christ (ch. 10:15, 16). He measures himself and his work according to the will and standard of God (Rom. 12:3; Eph. 4:7). To the Galatians, Paul declared that he dared not do any boasting except in “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14).

Make ourselves of the number. Gr. egkrino, “to reckon among,” “to judge worthy of being admitted to,” a presumably select circle.

Or compare. Gr. sugkrino, “to compare,” “to measure.” Paul will not venture to compete with these masters of self-flattery; for in this respect they far surpass anything of which he is capable.

Commend themselves. These Corinthian braggarts were members, it would seem, of what might be called a mutual admiration society. Each man set himself up as his own standard of excellence, and praised other members of the society in order to advance his own interests as an individual and those of the group to which he belonged. Having set up their own supposed virtues as a standard of comparison, they became their own ideal.

Self-praise is the worst form of self-deception. Conceit blinds men to an objective standard of excellence by which they can make an unbiased evaluation of themselves, and as a result they are forever pursuing themselves in a vicious circle. They become blind to God’s standard of measurement, blind to their own pride, blind to the excellent qualities of any who oppose them, blind even to their own need of salvation. This mode of self-appraisal, originating in self and ending with self, lacks insight or even enlightened self-interest. To live by this standard is completely contrary to the mind and spirit of Christ (Phil. 2:5-11).

Are not wise. It is the height of pride for a sinful man to consider himself as perfect, or nearly so (Rom. 7:18; 1 John 1:10). A sense of one’s own imperfection is the first requirement Heaven makes of all who would be accepted as the sons and daughters of God (see on Matt. 5:3).