2 Corinthians 10:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged,

NIV: Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand,

NASB: not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other people’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our domain, enlarged even more by you,

CSB: We are not boasting beyond measure about other people’s labors. On the contrary, we have the hope that as your faith increases, our area of ministry will be greatly enlarged,

NLT: Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended.

KJV: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

NKJV: not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,

Paul wrote in the previous verses that he refuses to participate in a popularity competition with his opponents in Corinth. He's not interested in scrabbling to be seen as the most impressive speaker or the best at self-promotion. These false teachers were competing according to the world's standards of comparison and measuring themselves against each other.

The mission given and empowered by God did not require Paul to prove himself worthy. He didn't need to worry about putting on a show, giving impressive performances. Also, Paul had already completed the task at hand. He had reached the Corinthians with the gospel of Jesus, and they had believed. That's all he had set out to do.

Paul adds now that he does not boast in work accomplished by others. He may mean that his opponents, the false teachers in Corinth, are attempting to claim the Corinthians as their own. This was despite the fact that Paul was the one who established the church there. He is the one who introduced the Corinthians to Christ, something they knew well.

Though the main task has been attained, Paul does not see his work as finished. His words here do not mean he has nothing left to do, now that those in the church in Corinth have come to Christ. Paul's hope is that as their faith grows, his influence for Christ among them will grow, as well. This may mean that he hopes to see more and more people come to faith in Christ or that he hopes that they will contribute to his ministry so that he can replicate in other places what he has accomplished, in God's power, among them.

Second Corinthians 10:1–18 contains Paul's response to charges against him from critics in Corinth. They claim that though his letters are potent, he is pathetic in person. Paul does not argue either point. However, he issues a stern warning: that he will arrive prepared for boldness in Christ in punishing every disobedience. He describes the conflict with the false apostles as a spiritual war. He and his associates plan to win that battle by capturing the thoughts of the Corinthians again so they will obey Christ. He will not boast to defend himself except in the Lord.

Critics and other opponents in Corinth argue that though Paul's letters are strong and weighty, he is unimpressive in person. In response, Paul warns the Corinthians not to make him show how bold he can be when he arrives. Paul and his partners fight for the truth about God and the gospel. They battle using spiritual weapons that destroy false arguments. He won't trade boasts with the false apostles, but will only boast in the Lord, who approves of him. The Corinthians should know that—they came to Christ as a result of Paul's ministry to them as an apostle.

Second Corinthians 10 continues the pattern of Paul's letter, as he deals with one topic after another in an orderly way. After concluding his comments about the contribution to the Christians in Jerusalem, Paul tackles a personal charge against him: that he is too unimpressive in person to be a true apostle of Christ. He insists he will follow through on the strong words in his letters when he comes to see them. He is fighting a spiritual war for the minds of the Corinthians and their obedience to Christ and will not stoop to the blatant self-promotion of the false apostles. This counter of false teachers continue into chapter 11.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.