Commended by God (2 Cor 10:12-18)

• Do you compare yourself with someone who is more popular, prettier, smarter, 'better,' more successful (2 Cor 10:12)? 
• How do you "boast in the Lord" (2 Cor 10:17, 13; 1 Cor 1:31; 15:10)?
• How do you live only by/for God's commendation (2 Cor 10:18)?
• What is Paul's utmost desire (2 Cor 10:16; 1 Cor 1:17, 23; 2:2)?

Boast within proper limits (10:12-18) is Paul taking the offensive by defending himself against those who say that he writes boldly from a distance, but lacks authority when in person. His opponents commend themselves (by comparing themselves with one another!). Cf. his boasting which is carefully measured and based on actual work done in the sphere of what's assigned to him by God. With his opponents clearly in mind, he says 'It is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends' (2 Cor 10:18).

Commend yourself by criticizing others. "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves" (2 Cor 10:12a). A popular method of teachers to attract pupils was to compare themselves with other teachers. But Paul would not dare to compare himself with his critics! His opponents' self-commendation is the object of Paul's satire: "When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (2 Cor 10:12b). How did they compare themselves with Paul?

• an authoritative presence and impressive speech (2 Cor 10:1, 10; 11:20-21), 
• charging a fee for the message proclaimed (2 Cor 11:7-11), 
• an impeccable Jewish ancestry (2 Cor 11:21b-22), 
• impressive spiritual experiences (2 Cor 12:1-6), 
• the performance of apostolic signs (2 Cor 12:12), and 
• some show of power and authority (2 Cor 11:19-20) to prove that Christ spoke through them (2 Cor 13:3). 

Their boasts were triumphalist in nature. There's no weakness, suffering, persecution and imprisonment which were often Paul's lot, and which Jesus himself said would be the experience of those who followed him. Paul criticizes them, saying, "they are not wise."

Paul's own measured boasting: "We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere [kanon] that also includes you" (2 Cor 10:13). "The sphere of service God" apportioned to Paul has the basic meaning of 'a rule' or 'a standard of measurement.' It denotes services rendered within 'a specified geographical area.'  The sphere of ministry God assigned Paul was the preaching of the gospel in Gentile lands (Rom 1:5, 13-14; 15:18-19; Gal 2:7-8), including his success in Corinth as part of God's ordained sphere: "a sphere that also includes you." Paul was within his rights operating in Corinth, but was questioned by his opponents, because "We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ" (2 Cor 10:14). Paul's right to operate as an apostle in Corinth is based on 2 facts:

1. God assigned to him the task of evangelizing the nations, and
2. he was the one who carried out the initial evangelization of Corinth.

"Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others" (2 Cor 10:15a). Paul doesn't boast of the fruits of the labors of others as if they were his own fruits, but that his opponents did.

"Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand [lit, 'but having hope that, as your faith grows, we shall be magnified among you in accordance with our sphere [of service] for abundance'] (2 Cor 10:15b). Paul hopes his sphere of service among them will be enlarged as their faith grows (niv, nrsv)--signalling the end of the crisis, leaving Paul free to preach elsewhere, and provide him with an enlarged support base. 'As if he had said, "If you had progressed as far as you ought, I should by now be occupied in gaining new churches and I should have your assistance in doing so. But, as things are, you are delaying me by your weakness." ' [Calvin]

"So that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else's territory" (2 Cor 10:16). In Romans, written shortly after, Paul's ambition is to take the gospel to Spain (Rom 15:24), further west, and 'to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation' (Rom 15:20). Paul doesn't want to boast of work already done in another's field. Cf. Paul's opponents--interfering in Corinth--were doing the very opposite, which Paul avoided. The gospel is still needed today in geographical areas/segments within societies where Christ isn't known.

"But, 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord'" (2 Cor 10:17; 1 Cor 1:31). The true ground of Christian boasting is the privilege of knowing God himself, though there's legitimate pride in work done by the grace of God (Rom 15:17-18). In Jer 9:23-24, the wise, the mighty and the rich are counselled against glorying in their advantages. All who glory are to glory that they know the Lord, which Jesus taught the 70 when they came back from their mission rejoicing that they had seen even the demons subject to them (Lk 10:17-20).

Glorying in success easily degenerates into self-commendation. "For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends" (2 Cor 10:18). Approved (dokimos) is approval after testing. Paul describes a tried and tested servant of Christ, one whose worth has been proved (Rom 16:10; 2 Tim 2:15). [Testing of Christian workers (2 Cor 8:22) and the works of believers (1 Cor 3:13; Gal 6:4).] Paul's eyes are on the ultimate evaluation of a person's ministry. It matters little what one says via self-recommendation or what judgments others make. What matters is only the Lord's commendation (1 Cor 4:1-5), implying that his opponents are blind to it. The theme of passing God's test is also in 2 Cor 13:5-7.

Though it's distasteful to defend oneself against criticism, it's sometimes necessary for the sake of one's ministry, as with Paul.

• He insists that his ministry was not carried out according to the world's standards/worldly wisdom:
• he didn't flatter them,
• nor adulterate God's word to make it more acceptable, 
• nor manipulate them by improper rhetoric.
• He countered arguments people used to resist the knowledge of God, while trusting that God's power would be released through the preaching of the gospel (1 Cor 2:1-5).
• He ministered with God-given authority to build people up, not to tear them down.
• He did not lord it over people's faith, but worked with them for their joy (2 Cor 1:24).

Avoid self-commendation though it's sometimes necessary to respond to criticism to set the record straight. The commendation that ultimately matters comes from the Lord: 'For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends' (2 Cor 10:18). Believers long to hear the words: 'Well done, good and faithful servant! . . . Come and share your master's happiness!' (Mt 25:21, 23).

Christians can legitimately 'boast' of work faithfully carried out for the Lord, while remembering that effective ministry is what Christ himself accomplishes through them (Rom 15:18). Ultimately, Paul's exhortation stands: 'But, "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord" ' (2 Cor 10:17).

• (10:12-18) Boasting within proper limits. Missionary comparisons. God sets limits to Paul's work.
• (10:12) Comparisons are odious.
• (10:13-15a) Limits set.
• (10:15b-16) Evangelization expanded.
• (10:17-18) Commendation by God.

Reference:

1. Charles Hodge. 1 & 2 Corinthians. A Geneva Series Commentary. The Banner of Truth Trust. 1857, 1859.
2. Colin Kruse. 2 Corinthians. Tyndale NT Commentaries. 1987, 2005.
3. Geoffrey Grogan. 2 Corinthians. The Glories & Responsibilities of Christian Service. 2007.
4. David Garland. 2 Corinthians. The New American Commentary. 1999.
5. Paul Barnett. The Message of 2 Corinthians. 1988.