Thomas Aquinas Commentary 2 Corinthians 10:13-18

"But we will not glory beyond [our] measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ: not glorying beyond [our] measure, [that is,] in other men`s labors; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto [further] abundance, so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, [and] not to glory in another`s province in regard of things ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." — 2 Corinthians 10:13-18 (ASV)

Having indicated the reason behind the things he had said, the Apostle now explains that reason. He had said that he measures himself by himself and does not go beyond that measure. A person, however, could be excessive in two ways when glorying in and commending himself. First, in regard to that about which he glories, for example, if he glories about something he does not have. Second, in regard to that in which he glories, for example, if a person has something from someone else but glories in himself as though he has it from himself. Thus, the Apostle shows that he did not go beyond the measure in glorying or praising himself.

In regard to the first point, he does three things:

1. He states his proposition.
2. He proves it (2 Corinthians 10:14).
3. He draws the conclusion (2 Corinthians 10:15).

He says, therefore: I say that we measure and compare ourselves to ourselves, namely, by doing what our office demands. But in doing this we will not boast beyond our measure, that is, when we exercise our power and commend ourselves. “You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity” (Leviticus 19:35). Instead, we will keep to the limits God has apportioned us. A Gloss by Lombard explains this as the limit of the Apostle’s prelacy, saying it is “according to the measure,” that is, according to the people measured out to him by God, the people whose prelate and rule of conduct he is.

But this same idea can be taken more universally, so that the measure of the rule is the quantity of grace. Then the sense is this: we glory according to the limits God has apportioned us, that is, according to the amount of grace God has given us. “But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7). This grace is a rule keeping us from being lifted up or separated from God.

This is the grace which God has apportioned us, because whatever good we do in preaching the Gospel and in converting you and others, it is all from God, granted to me for you and others: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). It is a measure, I say, to reach even to you, because you are under the measure of grace granted to me, by which you have been converted to Christ and obey the Gospel. Therefore, what he is proposing is this: that he is not going beyond the measure of glorying and praising himself in being their prelate and in the fact that they were converted by him.

He proves that this measure reaches even to them when he says: For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. It is as if to say: Of course we glory, but we do not stretch beyond ourselves in our grace, glory, or power, as if we do not reach you in our power and ministry. We were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ, that is, in the preaching of Christ’s Gospel. “For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15); “Are you not my workmanship in the Lord?” (1 Corinthians 9:1); “For he who worked through Peter for the mission to the circumcised worked through me also for the Gentiles” (Galatians 2:8).

Therefore, he draws the conclusion, saying: When I glory in you, I am not glorying beyond measure. Hence he says: We do not boast beyond limit, in other men’s labors, where someone else laid the foundation of faith.

Then, when he says, but our hope is that as your faith increases, our field among you may be greatly enlarged, he shows that he is not going beyond the measure when he glories about the future. It should be noted that a preacher has two reasons for glorying in his preaching: one is that those converted by his preaching are making progress, and the other is that other people are converted by his converts. For as it says, “Curtain is joined to curtain” , and “And let him who hears say, ‘Come’” (Revelation 22:17). One is easily converted when he sees others converted.

In regard to these two things, the Apostle hopes that his glorying in the Corinthians will be increased. First, in regard to their progress. Hence he says: I say that we do not glory beyond measure over your conversion caused by us in the past, but we hope to be greatly enlarged in the future—that is, for our glory to be increased by your increasing faith and by the progress of your good works. “Long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).

Second, we hope to be magnified in the conversion of others by you. Therefore he says, abundantly, meaning in the abundance of preaching not only among you but even in lands beyond you. And this is according to our rule, that is, just as Christ has enjoined us to preach not only to you but to all the Gentiles: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). This is done without boasting of work already done in another’s field, meaning we do not hope to glory, nor do we glory, in another man’s rule. It is as if to say: We will not glory in things prepared by others—that is, in those whom others have brought to the faith—but I will bear fruit among those to whom others have not preached. “Thus making it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named” (Romans 15:20).

But to the contrary, Peter preached at Rome before Paul preached there. I answer that Paul does not say this as though refusing to preach where another has preached; rather, he says that he intends to preach even where no others have preached.

Then when he says, Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord, he shows that he is not going beyond the measure as to that in which he glories. He is saying: If I glory in him in whom one should glory, I am not going beyond the proper measure. But since one should glory in God, “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord.” As it is written, “Let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me” (Jeremiah 9:24).

This can be explained in three ways:

1. Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord, so that “in the Lord” denotes the object in which he glories. It is as if to say: Let him glory in the fact that he possesses the Lord by knowing and loving Him.
2. Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord, that is, according to God. One glories in this way when he glories in the things of God and not in evil, like the one who is asked in the psalm, “Why do you glory in malice?” (Psalms 52:1, Vulgate).
3. Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord, that is, let him regard himself as having his glory from God, referring to God everything that contributes to his own glory. “What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).

This third way is how it is taken here when he says, Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord. It is as if to say: I glory in the foregoing, but not as though I had this from myself and not from God. And this is also your measure, because all your good has sprung from us. Indeed, we should glory in the Lord, not imputing our glory to ourselves, but to God.

For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted—that is, approved by God or by men—but the man whom the Lord commends. As it says, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2). The one whom the Lord commends is the one He makes commendable by good works and miracles, for God is the cause of all the good done by me.