2 Corinthians 10:7
You look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself that even as he is Christ’s, so also are we.
What one may especially admire in Paul among other things is this, that when he has fallen upon an urgent necessity for exalting himself, he manages both to accomplish this point, and also not to appear offensive to the many on account of this egotism; a thing we may see particularly in his Epistle to the Galatians. For having there fallen upon such an argument, he provides for both these points; a matter of the very utmost difficulty and demanding much prudence; he is at once modest and says somewhat great of himself. And observe how in this place also he makes it of great account, You look at the things that are before your face. Behold here also prudence. For having rebuked those that deceived them, he confined not his remarks to them, but he leaps away from them to these too; and he does so constantly. For, in truth, he scourges not those only that lead astray, but the deceived also. For had he let even them go without calling them to an account, they would not so easily have been reformed by what was said to the others; but would have been greatly elated even, as not being amenable to accusations. Therefore he scourges them also. And this is not all that is to be admired in him, but this farther, that he rebukes either party in a manner suitable to each. Hear at least what he says to these, You look at the things that are before your face. The accusation is no light one; but a mark of men exceedingly easy to be deceived. Now what he says is this, ‘you test by what appear, by things carnal, by things bodily.’ What is meant by ‘what appear?’ If one is rich, if one is puffed up, if one is surrounded by many flatterers, if one says great things of himself, if one is vain-glorious, if one makes a pretence of virtue without having virtue, for this is the meaning of, you look at the things that are before your face.
If any man trust in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, even so also are we. For he does not wish to be vehement at the beginning, but he increases and draws to a head little by little. But observe here how much harshness and covert meaning there is. He shows this by using the words with himself. For he says, ‘Let him not wait to learn this from us; that is, by our rebuke of himself,’ but let him consider this with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, so also are we; not that he was Christ’s in such manner as the other was, but, that even as he is Christ’s, so also am I Christ’s. Thus far the community holds good: for it is not surely the case that he indeed is Christ’s, but I some other’s. Then having laid down this equality between them, he goes on to add wherein he exceeded, saying,
2 Corinthians 10:8
For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down, I shall not be put to shame.
For since he was going to say somewhat great, observe how he softens it. For nothing does so offend the majority of hearers as for any one to praise himself. Wherefore to cut at the root of this offensiveness, he says, For though I should glory somewhat abundantly. And he did not say, ‘if any man trust that he is Christ’s let him think that he is far short of us. For I possess much authority from Him, so as to punish and to kill whomsoever I choose;’ but what? For though I should glory even somewhat abundantly. And yet he possessed more than can be told, but nevertheless he lowers it in his way of speaking. And he said not, ‘I glory,’ but, if I should glory, if I should choose to do so: at once both showing modesty, and declaring his superiority. If therefore he says, I should glory concerning the authority which the Lord gave me. Again, he ascribes the whole to Him, and makes the gift common. For building up, and not for casting down. Do you see how again he allays the envy his praises might give rise to, and draws the hearer over to himself by mentioning the use for which he received it? Then why does he say, Casting down imaginations? Because this is itself a special form of building up, the removing of hindrances, and detecting the unsound, and laying the true together in the building. For this end therefore we received it, that we might build up. But if any should spar and battle with us, and be incurable, we will use that other power also, destroying and overthrowing him. Wherefore also he says, I shall not be put to shame, that is, I shall not be proved a liar or a boaster.