John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 10:12

"For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding." — 2 Corinthians 10:12 (ASV)

For we dare not. He says this by way of irony, for afterwards he does not merely compare himself boldly with them, but, deriding their vanity, he leaves them far behind him. Now by this irony he lands a blow, not merely against those foolish boasters, but also against the Corinthians, who encouraged them in their folly by their misdirected approval.

“I am satisfied,” he says, “with my moderate way; for I would not dare to put myself on a footing with your Apostles, who are the heralds of their own excellence.” Meanwhile, when he intimates that their glory consists of mere speaking and boasting, he shows how silly and worthless they are, while he claims for himself deeds instead of words, that is, a true and solid ground for glorying.

He may seem, however, to err in the very thing for which he reproves others, for he immediately afterwards commends himself. I answer that his design must be taken into view, for those do not aim at their own commendation who, entirely free from ambition, have no desire but to serve the Lord usefully. As to this passage, however, there is no need of any other explanation than what may be gathered from the words themselves, for those are said to commend themselves who, while in poverty and starvation as to true praise, exalt themselves in vain-glorious boasting and falsely claim that they are what they are not. This, also, appears from what follows.

But they measure themselves by themselves. Here he points out their folly, as with his finger. The man who has but one eye sees well enough among the blind; the man who is dull of hearing hears distinctly enough among the totally deaf. Such were those who were satisfied with themselves and showed themselves off among others, simply because they did not look to anyone who was superior to themselves. For if they had compared themselves with Paul, or anyone like him, they would have felt constrained to immediately lay aside that foolish impression they entertained and would have exchanged boasting for shame.

For an explanation of this passage, we need look no further than the monks. Almost all of them are the most ignorant asses, yet at the same time they are regarded as learned persons because of their long robe and hood. If anyone among them has merely a slight smattering of elegant literature, he proudly spreads his feathers like a peacock; a marvelous reputation spreads about him, and he is adored among his companions.

However, if the mask of the hood were laid aside and a thorough examination undertaken, their vanity would immediately be discovered.

Why so? The old proverb holds good: “Ignorance is presumptuous.” But the excessively insolent arrogance of the monks proceeds chiefly from this: that they measure themselves by themselves. For, as in their cloisters there is nothing but barbarism, it is no wonder if the man who has but one eye is a king among the blind.

Such were Paul’s rivals, for inwardly they flattered themselves, not considering what virtues entitled a person to true praise and how far short they came of the excellence of Paul and those like him. And certainly, this single consideration might justly have covered them with shame. But it is the just punishment of the ambitious that by their silliness they expose themselves to ridicule (which they are most anxious to avoid) and, instead of the glory they immoderately desire, they incur disgrace.