SEV Biblia, Chapter 10:12
¶ Porque no osamos entremeternos o compararnos con algunos que se encomiendan a sí mismos; mas no entienden que ellos, consigo mismos se miden, y a sí mismos se comparan.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 10:12
Verse 12. We dare not make ourselves, &c.] As if he had said: I dare neither associate with, nor compare myself to, those who are full of self-commendation. Some think this to be an ironical speech. But they, measuring themselves by themselves] They are not sent of God; they are not inspired by his Spirit; therefore they have no rule to think or act by. They are also full of pride and self-conceit; they look within themselves for accomplishments which their self-love will soon find out; for to it real and fictitious are the same. As they dare not compare themselves with the true apostles of Christ, they compare themselves with each other; and, as they have no perfect standard, they can have no excellence; nor can they ever attain true wisdom, which is not to be had from looking at what we are but to what we should be; and if without a directory, what we should be will never appear, and consequently our ignorance must continue. This was the case with these self-conceited false apostles; but ou suniousin, are not wise, Mr. Wakefield contends, is an elegant Graecism signifying they are not aware that they are measuring themselves by themselves, &c.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. For we dare not make ourselves of the number , etc..] Some understand this as spoken ironically, as if the apostle jeeringly should say, he would not pretend to join, or put himself upon a level, who was a poor, little, mean, despicable person, with such great men as the false apostles were, men of such large gifts, and of such great learning and eloquence; though they may be understood without an irony, that the modesty of the apostle and his fellow ministers would not suffer them to mingle with such persons, and act the vainglorious part they did: or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; they were not so vain and foolish, as to give high encomiums of themselves, therefore would not boast even of the authority they had, and much less say that in letters, which they could not make good in fact: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise , or understand not; how foolish they are, how ridiculous they make themselves; they do not understand what they say, nor whereof they affirm; they do not understand themselves, what they really are; for to form a right judgment of themselves, they should have considered the gifts and abilities, the learning and knowledge of others, and thereby might have taken an estimate of their own; but instead of this, they only consulted themselves, and measured and compared themselves with themselves; which was acting just such a foolish part, as if a dwarf was to measure himself not with any kind of measure, or with another person, but with himself; only surveys himself, and his own dimensions, and fancies himself a giant. Just the reverse is this, to what is said in Philo the Jew f86 , thn gar ouyeneian thn emautou metrein emayon , I have learned to measure the nothingness of myself, and to contemplate thy exceeding great bounties; and moreover, perceive myself to be dust and ashes, or if there is any thing more abject.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-18 - If we would compare ourselves with others who excel us, this would be good method to keep us humble. The apostle fixes a good rule for his conduct; namely, not to boast of things without his measure, which wa the measure God had distributed to him. There is not a more fruitfu source of error, than to judge of persons and opinions by our ow prejudices. How common is it for persons to judge of their ow religious character, by the opinions and maxims of the world aroun them! But how different is the rule of God's word! And of all flattery self-flattery is the worst. Therefore, instead of praising ourselves we should strive to approve ourselves to God. In a word, let us glor in the Lord our salvation, and in all other things only as evidences of his love, or means of promoting his glory. Instead of praisin ourselves, or seeking the praise of men, let us desire that honou which cometh from God only __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ου 3756 PRT-N γαρ 1063 CONJ τολμωμεν 5111 5719 V-PAI-1P εγκριναι 1469 5658 V-AAN η 2228 PRT συγκριναι 4793 5658 V-AAN εαυτους 1438 F-3APM τισιν 5100 X-DPM των 3588 T-GPM εαυτους 1438 F-3APM συνιστανοντων 4921 5723 V-PAP-GPM αλλα 235 CONJ αυτοι 846 P-NPM εν 1722 PREP εαυτοις 1438 F-3DPM εαυτους 1438 F-3APM μετρουντες 3354 5723 V-PAP-NPM και 2532 CONJ συγκρινοντες 4793 5723 V-PAP-NPM εαυτους 1438 F-3APM εαυτοις 1438 F-3DPM ου 3756 PRT-N συνιουσιν 4920 5719 V-PAI-3P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
12. Make ourselves of the number (egkrinai eautouv). Rev., better, to number ourselves. Lit., to judge ourselves to be among: to place in the same category with.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
10:12 {To number or compare ourselves} (enkrinai e 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 sunkrinw, 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 suniasin). The regular form for present active indicative third plural of suniemi, to comprehend, to grasp. Some MSS. have the late form suniousin (omega form suniw). 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. #Mr 8:17.
