John Calvin 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 if I should desire. So that what he had said—namely, his lack of inclination to boast—would not be turned into an occasion for slander, with malicious people replying, “You are not inclined to it, because it is not in your power,” he anticipates such a reply.

“I would have it well within my power,” he says, “for good reasons, and I would not be justly accused of vanity, because I have grounds to do so, but I refrain from it.” He uses the term folly here in a different sense than he had before. For even those who boast on good grounds act foolishly and repulsively if any boasting or ambition is evident.

The folly, however, is more offensive and unbearable if anyone boasts without grounds—or, in other words, pretends to be what he is not—for in that case, there is shamelessness in addition to foolishness. The Apostle here took it as a settled matter that his boasting was as humble as it was well-founded. Erasmus has translated it as “I spare you,” but I prefer to understand it as meaning “I refrain,” or, as I have translated it, “I forbear.”

Lest anyone should think of me. He adds the reason: because he is content to occupy the station that God has assigned him. He says, “My appearance and speech do not suggest anything distinguished in me: I have no objection, therefore, to be held in low esteem.” Here we perceive what great modesty there was in this man, since he was not at all concerned about his humble exterior, which he manifested in his appearance and speech, even though he was filled with such superior gifts.

There would, however, be no inconsistency in explaining it this way: that, satisfied with the reality itself, he says nothing about himself, so that he might thus indirectly rebuke the false Apostles, who boasted about many things in themselves, none of which were evident. The interpretation I mentioned first, however, is what I prefer.