Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 12:6

"For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me [to be], or heareth from me." — 2 Corinthians 12:6 (ASV)

For though I would desire to glory. I take this to be a solemn and serious declaration of the irony that precedes; and that Paul means to say seriously, that if he had a wish to boast as other men boasted, if he chose to make much of his attainments and privileges, he would have enough to mention. It would not be mere empty boasting without any foundation or any just cause, for he had as much to speak about confidently pertaining to his labors as an apostle, and his evidence of the Divine favor, as could be urged by anyone. "I might go on to speak much more than I have done, and to urge claims which all would admit to be well-founded."

I shall not be a fool." It would not be foolish boasting, for it would be according to truth. I could urge much more than I have done; I could speak of things that no one would be inclined to call into question as laying the foundation of just claims to my being regarded as eminently favored by God; I could seriously state what all would admit to be so."

For I will say the truth. That is, "Whatever I should say on this subject would be the simple truth. I should mention nothing that has not actually occurred. But I forbear, lest someone should form an improper estimate of me." The apostle seems to have intended to add something more, but he was checked by the apprehension to which he here refers. Or perhaps he means to say, that if he should boast of the vision to which he had just referred, if he should go on to say how highly he had been honored and exalted by it, there would be no impropriety in it. It was so remarkable, that if he confined himself strictly to the truth, as he would do, still it would be regarded by all as a very extraordinary honor, and one to which no one of the false teachers could refer as laying a foundation for his boasting.

Lest any man should think of me, etc. The idea in this part of the verse I take to be this: "I desire and expect to be estimated by my public life. I expect to be judged by men by my deeds, by what they see in me, and by my general reputation regarding what I have done in establishing the Christian religion. I am willing that my character and reputation, that the estimate in which I will be held by mankind, shall rest on that. I do not wish that my character among men shall be determined by my secret feelings, or by any secret extraordinary communication from heaven that I may have, and that cannot be subjected to the observation of my fellow men. I am willing to be estimated by my public life; and however valuable such extraordinary manifestations may be to me as an individual, or however much they may comfort me, I do not wish to make them the basis of my public reputation. I expect to stand and be estimated by my public deeds; by what all men see and hear of me; and I would not have them form even a favorable opinion of me beyond that."

This is the noble language of a man who was willing to enjoy such a reputation as his public life entitled him to.

He wished to have the basis of his reputation such that all men could see and examine it. Unlike enthusiasts and fanatics, he appealed to no secret impulses, did not rest his claims for public confidence on any peculiar communications from heaven, but wished to be estimated by his public deeds.

And the important truth taught is, that however much communion we may have with God; however much comfort and support in prayer, and in our favored moments of fellowship with God; or however much we may fancy in this way that we are the favorites of Heaven; and however much this may support us in trial, still this should not be made the foundation of claim to the favorable opinions of our fellow men.

By our public character, by our well-known actions, by our lives as seen by men, we should desire to be estimated, and we should be satisfied with such a measure of public esteem as our deportment fairly entitles us to. We should seldom, perhaps, refer to our moments of secret, happy, and most favored communion with God.

Paul kept his most elevated joys, in this respect, secret for fourteen years: what an example to those who are constantly blazoning their Christian experience abroad, and boasting of what they have enjoyed! We should never refer to such moments as a foundation for the estimate in which our character shall be held by our fellow men.

We should never make this the foundation of a claim to the public confidence in us. For all such claims, for all the estimate in which we will be held by men, we should be willing to be tried by our lives. Paul would not even make a vision of heaven—not even the privilege of having beheld the glories of the upper world, though a favor conferred on no other living man—a ground of the estimate in which his character should be held!

What an example to those who wish to be estimated by secret raptures, and by special communications to their souls from heaven! No. Let us be willing to be estimated by men by what they see in us; to enjoy such a reputation as our conduct fairly entitles us to. Let our communion with God cheer our own hearts; but let us not obtrude this on men as furnishing a claim for an exalted standing in their estimation.