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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 2 Corinthians 10:12 - 10:12
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
To number or compare ourselves (enkrinai ē sunkrinai). Paronomasia here, play on the two words. Enkrinai is first aorist active infinitive of old verb, but here only in N.T., to judge among, to judge one as worthy to be numbered among as here. The second verb sunkrinai (first aorist active infinitive of sunkrinō, old verb, in N.T. only here and 1Co 2:13) originally meant to combine as in 1Co 2:13 (which see), but here it has the sense of “compare” not found in the old Greek. The papyri use it to mean to decide. Plummer suggests “to pair and compare” for the play on the words here.
Measuring themselves by themselves (en heautois heautous metrountes). Or “in themselves.” Keenest sarcasm. Setting themselves up as the standards of orthodoxy these Judaizers always measure up to the standard while Paul falls short.
Comparing themselves with themselves (sunkrinontes heautous heautois). Associate instrumental case heautois after sunkrinontes (verb just explained). Paul is not keen to fall into the trap set for him.
Are without understanding (ou suniāsin). The regular form for present active indicative third plural of suniēmi, to comprehend, to grasp. Some MSS. have the late form suniousin (omega form suniō). It is a hard thing to see, but it is true. These men do not see their own picture so obvious to others (Eph 5:17; 1Ti 1:7). Cf. Mar 8:17.