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13.But we will not boast beyond our measure He now contrasts his own moderation with the folly of the false Apostles, (780) and, at the same time, he shows what is the true measure of glorying — when we keep within the limits that have been marked out for us by the Lord. “ the Lord given me such a thing? I shall be satisfied with this measure. I shall not either desire or claim to myself any thing more.” This he calls the measure of his rule. (781) For every one’ rule, according to which he ought to regulate himself is this — God’ gift and calling. At the same time, it is not lawful for us to glow in God’ gift and calling on our own account, but merely in so far as it is expedient for the glory of him, who is so liberal to us with this view — that we may acknowledge ourselves indebted to him for everything. (782)
A measure to reach. By this clause he intimates, that he stands in no need of commendations expressed in words among the Corinthians, who were a portion of his glow, as he says elsewhere, (Phi_4:1,) ye are my crown. He carries out, however, the form of expression, which he had previously entered upon. “ have,” says he, “ most ample field for glorying, so as not to go beyond my own limits, and you are one department of that field.” He modestly reproves, however, their ingratitude, (783) in overlooking, in a manner, his apostleship, which ought to have been especially in estimation among them, on the ground of God’ commendation of it. In each clause, too, we must understand as implied, a contrast between him and the false Apostles, who had no such approbation to show.
(780) “Il oppose maintenant sa modestie a la sotte outrecuidance des faux apostres;” — “ now contrasts his modesty with the foolish presumption of the false Apostles.”
(781) “ the measured and determinate limits of the stadium, the athletae were bound to contend for the prize, which they forfeited without hope of recovery, if they deviated even a little from the appointed course. In allusion to this inviolable arrangement, the Apostle tells the Corinthians: We will not boast of things without our measure, etc. It may help very much to understand this and the following verses, if, with Hammond, we consider the terms used in them as agonistical. In this view of them, the ‘ of the rule’ ( τὸ μέτρον τοῦ κανόνος alludes to the path marked out, and bounded by a white line, for racers in the Isthmian games, celebrated among the Corinthians; and so the Apostle represents his work in preaching the gospel as his spiritual race, and the province to which he was appointed as the compass or stage of ground, which God had distributed or measured out ( ἐμέρισεν αὐτῳ for him to run in. Accordingly, ‘ boast without his measure,’ (2Co_10:13, εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα and to ‘ himself beyond his measure,’ ( ὑπερεκτείνεσθαι refer to one that ran beyond or out of his line. ‘ are come as far as to you’ (2Co_10:14, ἄχρι ὑμῶν ἐφθάσαμεν alludes to him that came foremost to the goal; and ‘ another man’ line’ (2Co_10:16, ἐν ἀλλοτρίῳ κανόνι signifies — ’ the province that was marked out for somebody else,’ in allusion to the line by which the race was bounded, each of the racers having the path which he ought to run chalked out to him, and if one stepped over into the other’ path he extended himself over his line.” — Paxton’ Illustrations (“ and Customs,” volume 2.) — Ed.
(782) “Afin que nons luy facions hommage de tout ce que nons avons, confessans le tenir de luy;” — “ we may make acknowledgment to him as to every thing that we have, confessing that we hold it from him.”
(783) “Or en parlant ainsi, il taxe (modestement toutesfois) leur ingratitude;” — “ by speaking thus he reproves, (modestly, however,) their ingratitude.”