Not Boasting of Things Without Measure 2 Corinthians 10:15

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth that he and his companions, “ stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ”, and in chapter ten and verse fifteen of Second Corinthians, Paul shares with the church members about, “not boasting of things without our measure” where we read:

Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

The verse begins, “Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labors;” Paul began with the words, “not boasting” which means “neither vaunting or glorying” “of things” or “towards and unto purposes” “without our measure” which means “excessively, immensely and immoderate”, “of other men's labors” or “of intense work united with trouble and toil belonging to another, foreign, strange and alien”. Paul and his companions did not “excessively” “glory” in other people's difficult works.

The verse continues, “but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,” Paul added the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “having hope” or “holding, owning and possessing expectation of good” “when” which means “at which time” “your faith” or “the church members' conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things and the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ” “is increased” which means “is caused to grow and become greater”, “that we shall be enlarged” or “that Paul and his companions might be magnified, made conspicuous, esteemed highly, extolled, lauded and celebrated” “by you” which refers to “the church members” “according to” or “down from, throughout, toward and along” “our rule” which means “Paul and his companions measure and definitely bounded or fixed space within the limits of which one's power of influence is confined” “abundantly” or “superfluously, superiority, preference, pre-eminence, gain and profit”. Paul and his companions “hoped” that the church members would “grow” in their “faith” which would cause Paul and his companions to “be magnified and celebrated” “according to” their “measures and definite bounds”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how he did not “glory” in the “labors” of people but rather in the “faith” which the church members would acquire. Paul and his companions rejoiced and “celebrated” when the church members “grew” in their trust and faith in Jesus Christ, and this was their great “hope” for them. Those who know Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord” not only begin a relationship with Him, but also continually “increase” in their “faith” and make no cause for “boasting without measure” by any other person.

Next time Paul tells the church members how he and his companions, “preach the gospel in the regions beyond you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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