2 Corinthians 10:18
in 2 Corinthians 10For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
KJV
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 10
Commentary
11 notes on this verseNot he that commendeth himself - Not the person who makes a parade of his own attainments; who preaches himself, and not Christ Jesus the Lord; and, far from being your servant for Christ’s sake, affects to be your ruler; not such a one shall be approved of God, by an especial blessing on his labors; but he whom the Lord commendeth, by giving him the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, and converting the heathen by his ministry. These were qualifications to which the false apostle at Corinth could not pretend.
This site's exposition
Let him who boasts boast in the Lord
on 2 Corinthians 10:17-18
Paul closes the chapter with Jeremiah 9:24, already cited at 1 Corinthians 1:31: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord. Verse 18 answers the self-commendation named at verse 12 and sets the rule for the boasting of the next chapter.
This site's exposition
the one whom the Lord commends
Approval is the Lord's verdict to give. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown take the Lord's commendation to be the believers converted through a minister, as at 3:1 to 3. Matthew Henry calls self-commendation no praise at all, and urges the reader to seek God's approval instead.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
God does not commend someone whom he does not send.
"For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." He did not say, we are so, "but whom the Lord commendeth." Seest thou how modestly he speaks? But if as he proceeds he stirreth up loftier words, wonder not, for this also cometh of Paul's prudence. For if he had gone on in every part to speak lowly words, he would not have hit these men so effectually, nor have extricated the disciples from their error. For it is possible both by modesty ill-timed to do harm, and by saying something admirable of one's self at a proper time to do good. As therefore he also did. For there was no little danger in the disciples being persuaded into any mean opinion of Paul. Not that Paul sought the glory that cometh of men. For had he sought this, he would not have kept silence so long on those great and marvellous matters of "fourteen years ago;" (Chap. xii. 20) nor would he, when necessity was laid upon him, have so shrunk back and hesitated to speak of them; very evidently he would not even then have spoken, had he not been compelled. Certainly then it was not from a desire after the glory which cometh from men that he said these things, but out of tender care for the disciples. For since they cast reproaches at him as a braggart, and as boastful in words but able to show nothing in deeds, he is compelled subsequently to come to those revelations. Although he had it in his power to convince them by his deeds, at the time when he said these things: yet he still persists, nevertheless, in using menaces in words. For he was most especially free from vain-glory; and this his whole life proves, both before and after this.
The Medieval Church2 voices
He did not say: we are skillful, but: "whom the Lord commends," that is, the one whom the reality of labor and endeavor, by the grace of God, has shown to be worthy.
For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted, i.e., approved by God or by men: "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips" (Prov. 27:2), but the man whom the Lord commends, i.e., …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Of all flattery, self-flattery is the worst, and self-applause is seldom any better than self-flattery and self-deceit. At the best, self-commendation is no praise, and it is oftentimes as foolish and vain as it is proud; therefore, instead of praising or commending ourselves, we should strive to approve ourselves to God, and his approbation will be our best commendation.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For not he that commendeth himself is approved,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
(Pr 27:2). whom the Lord commendeth--to whom the Lord has given as His "Epistle of commendation," the believers whom he has been the instrument of converting: as was Paul's case (2Co 3:1-3). is approved--can stand the test of the final trial.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For not he that commendeth himself ... - Not he who boasts of his talents and endowments. He is not to be judged by the estimate which he shall place on himself, but by the estimate which God shall form and express. Is approved - By God. It is no evidence that we shall be saved that we are prone to commend ourselves; see Rom 16:10. But whom the Lord commendeth - see the note on Rom 2:29. The idea here is, that people are to be approved or rejected by God. He is to pass judgment on them, and that judgment is to be in accordance with his estimate of their character, and not according to their own. If he approves them they will be saved; if he does not, vain will be all their empty boasting; vain all their reliance on their wealth, eloquence. learning, or earthly honors. None will save them from condemnation; not all these things can purchase for them eternal life. Paul thus seriously shows that we should be mainly anxious to obtain the divine favor. It should be the grand aim and purpose of our life; and we should repress all disposition for vain - glory or self-confidence; all reliance on our talents, attainments, or accomplishments for salvation. our boast is that we have such a redeemer: and in that we all may glory! Remarks 1. We should have no desire to show off any special boldness or energy of character which we may have; 2Co 10:1-2. We should greatly prefer to evince the gentleness and meekness of Christ. Such a character is in itself of far more value than one that is merely energetic and bold; that is rash, authoritative, and fond of display. 2. They who are officers in the church should have no desire to administer discipline; 2Co 10:2. Some people are so fond of power that they always love to exercise it. […]
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑαυτὸν | he'auton | himself | G1438 → | 322 times |
| συνιστάνων, | sunistanon | commending, | G4921 → | 16 times |
| ἐκεῖνός | ekeinos | this [one] | G1565 → | 260 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| δόκιμος, | dokimos | approved, | G1384 → | |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ὃν | hon | [the one] whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κύριος | kurios | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| συνίστησιν.¶ | sunistesin | commends. | G4921 → | 16 times |
οὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἑαυτὸνhimself
he'autonG1438 →322 times
συνιστάνων,commending,
sunistanonG4921 →16 times
ἐκεῖνόςthis [one]
ekeinosG1565 →260 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
δόκιμος,approved,
dokimosG1384 →
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ὃν[the one] whom
honG3739 →1405 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
κύριοςLord
kuriosG2962 →711 times
συνίστησιν.¶commends.
sunistesinG4921 →16 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 21:2All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 16:2
All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
- Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
- Luke 16:15
So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
- Jeremiah 17:10
Through
Luke 16:15So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the…
- Proverbs 21:2
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
- 1 Samuel 16:7
Through
Romans 2:29No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 30:6
The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
- Deuteronomy 30:6
Through
1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each…
it leads to
- James 5:7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
- James 5:7
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 22 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.