II Corinthians 10:15 · Bible study
2 Corinthians 10:15 Commentary: Apostolic Boundaries and Growing Faith
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Paul refuses to boast in others' labors; he hopes Corinth's growing faith will enlarge his God-assigned sphere of influence.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul refuses to claim credit for others' work; he hopes the Corinthians' maturing faith will expand his God-appointed territory for mission.
- Key words: ametra (immoderate, beyond measure); kopois (labors, toil); auxanomenēs (growing, present participle); megalunthēnai (to be enlarged/magnified, aorist passive); kanona (rule, measuring line).
- Main debate: Does megalunthēnai mean (a) Paul's reputation will be praised, or (b) his sphere of ministry will be extended? Most commentators (Vincent, Meyer, Clarke) prefer the spatial meaning.
- Theological theme: Apostolic authority as stewardship under God's assignment; the interdependence of congregational maturity and missionary expansion.
- Best use: Teaching on healthy church growth, missionary vision, and distinguishing legitimate from illegitimate ministry credit.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as well,
WEB World English Bible 2000
not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,
KJV King James Version 1769
Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
ASV American Standard Version 1901
not glorying beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto further abundance,
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
not boasting of the things not measured, in other men's labours, and having hope--your faith increasing--in you to be enlarged, according to our line--into abundance,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
not boasting out of measure in other people's labours, but having hope, your faith increasing, to be enlarged amongst you, according to our rule, yet more abundantly
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Not glorying beyond measure in other men's labours: but having hope of your increasing faith, to be magnified in you according to our rule abundantly.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
No gloriándonos fuera de nuestra medida en trabajos ajenos; mas teniendo esperanza del crecimiento de vuestra fe, que seremos muy|strong="G1519, G4050" engrandecidos entre vosotros, conforme á nuestra regla.
Não nos orgulhamos além da medida no trabalho de outros, mas temos esperança de que, quando vossa fé crescer, seremos engrandecidos abundantemente entre vós conforme nossa extensão;
Ce n’ est pas hors de toute mesure, ce n’ est pas des travaux d’autrui, que nous nous glorifions; mais c’ est avec l’ espérance, si votre foi augmente, de grandir encore d’ avantage parmi vous, selon les limites qui nous sont assignées,
und rühmen uns nicht übers Ziel hinaus in fremder Arbeit und haben Hoffnung, wenn nun euer Glaube in euch wächst, daß wir in unsrer Regel nach wollen weiterkommen
Niet roemende buiten de maat in anderer lieden arbeid, maar hebbende hoop, als uw geloof zal gewassen zijn, dat wij onder ulieden overvloediglijk zullen vergroot worden naar onzen regel;
E non ci gloriamo oltre misura di fatiche altrui, ma nutriamo speranza che, crescendo la fede vostra, noi, senza uscire dai nostri limiti, saremo fra voi ampiamente ingranditi
A nie chlubimy się nad miarę z cudzych prac; ale mając nadzieję, iż gdy się pomnoży wiara wasza w was, pomnożymy się i my między wami według sznuru naszego z obfitością,
Мы не без меры хвалимся, не чужими трудами, но надеемся, с возрастанием веры вашей, с избытком увеличить в вас удел наш,
我們不 仗著 別人 所勞碌的，分外 誇口；但 指望 你們 信心 增長的時候， 所量給我們 的界限，就可以因著 你們 更加 開展，
Not taking credit to ourselves for what is not our business, that is, for the work of others; but having hope that, with the growth of your faith, we may get the credit for an increase which is the effect of our work,
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Corinthians 10:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse distinguishes Paul's restrained boasting from the false apostles who claimed credit for work they did not perform. The phrase 'not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labors' is, as Barnes notes, a direct contrast to the intruders who 'entered the quiet and easy field' after Paul had planted the church through hardship. Calvin sharpens this: Paul 'reproves more freely the false Apostles, who had put forth their hand in the reaping of another man’s harvest' while disparaging the one who prepared the ground. Gill adds that the false teachers boasted of the Corinthians as their own converts, though they were the fruit of Paul's own evangelistic labor.
The second half, 'but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence', is interpreted as Paul's forward-looking missionary plan. The present participle auxanomenēs (growing/increasing) signals progressive maturation; Paul's hope rests on their ongoing spiritual development. Vincent explains that the verb megalunthēnai ('to be enlarged' or 'magnified') here means apostolic efficiency expanded to reach new regions, not merely personal praise. Wesley concisely sums it up: 'Having hope, now your faith is increased, so that you can the better spare us. To be enlarged by you abundantly, that is, enabled by you to go still further.'
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Reputation enlargement: Lexicon definition of megalunō as 'to praise' (Thayer, Luke 1:46); Clarke and Bloomfield suggest Paul hopes the Corinthians will commend him.
- Territorial enlargement: Context of verses 13–16; Paul speaks of 'regions beyond you' (v.16); Vincent, Meyer, and Calvin argue the metaphor of the measuring line demands spatial expansion.
What is clear: Paul repudiates false boasting in others' work and grounds his hope in the Corinthians' increasing faith as the means for advancing the gospel into new areas within his God-assigned mission field.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Boasting in others' labor | Christians agree it is wrong to claim credit for work God did through others. | Catholic and Orthodox traditions see legitimate boasting in the communion of saints' merits; Protestant traditions caution against any 'boasting' except in the Lord (v.17). |
| 'Enlarged' (megalunthēnai) | The word carries a positive sense of increase, whether of reputation or reach. | Some (Clarke, early Wesleyans) interpret it as being praised or commended; others (Vincent, Meyer, Calvin) see it as expansion of effective ministry territory. |
| Faith growing | Increasing faith is necessary for the church to become a sending base. | Catholic theology emphasizes faith formed by love and sacramental growth; Protestant theology stresses faith as trust that matures through hearing the Word. |
| Apostolic 'rule' (kanon) | The term refers to a God-assigned sphere of authority. | Anglican and Reformed traditions stress the apostolic office as unique and unrepeatable; Pentecostal and charismatic traditions see the 'rule' as applicable to any ministry gifted by the Spirit. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul writes 2 Corinthians amid painful tensions with the Corinthian church. After planting the church in AD 50, 51 (Acts 18), he moved on to Ephesus and other regions. Meanwhile, traveling teachers, often called 'false apostles' (2 Cor 11:13), arrived in Corinth, questioned Paul's apostolic authority, claimed the congregation as their own, and built parties against him. These intruders 'measured themselves by themselves' (10:12) and boasted in work they had not done.
Paul's response in chapter 10 is famously defensive and sarcastic. He insists on a God-given 'measure' or kanōn, a term from surveying that means a measuring rod or assigned territory. In the Greco-Roman world, philosophers and orators often competed for followers, claiming spheres of influence. Paul repudiates that game: his authority comes from Christ, and his territory is defined by where he has actually preached the gospel. Poole notes that although ordinary ministers are fixed in particular places, the apostles' rule was to 'go and preach the gospel over the whole world, being tied to no certain people or places.' Yet even that universal commission operated within God's providential boundaries.
The cultural backdrop also includes the shame-and-honor system of the ancient Mediterranean. Boasting was acceptable only when grounded in real achievement; to boast in another's labor was shameful. Paul leverages this social code to expose the false teachers as frauds, while claiming legitimate honor for his own foundational work. At the same time, he refuses to cling to Corinth: his hope is not to entrench himself but to use their maturing faith as a launchpad for further mission, in line with his principle in Romans 15:20 to preach where Christ was not yet named.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries note no significant textual variants for 2 Corinthians 10:15. The Greek text is stable across the major manuscript traditions, with only minor differences in punctuation that do not affect meaning.
Reception History
Early church fathers (e.g., Chrysostom) read this verse as Paul’s defense of apostolic humility, contrasting it with the arrogance of heretics. In the medieval period, it was used to support the idea of episcopal jurisdiction, each bishop ministering within his own diocese. During the Reformation, Calvin and others highlighted the divine appointment of boundaries, arguing that no human ambition can exceed God’s calling. In modern missionary movements (e.g., William Carey, Hudson Taylor), this text has been applied as a model of expanding the gospel from established churches into unreached territories, though interpreters caution against ignoring Paul’s stress on not intruding into others’ work.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Boundaries are given, not taken. Paul boasts only within the line God assigned (v.13). In a culture of self-promotion, Christian workers must recognize that ministry territory, whether geographical, vocational or relational, is stewardship, not ownership.
- Growth in faith unlocks mission. The Corinthians' immature faith hindered Paul's further outreach (Calvin, Gill). As their faith grew, they would become partners in enlarging his sphere. Maturity serves the advance of the gospel.
- Enlargement is about reach, not reputation. The verb megalunthēnai could mean 'to be praised,' but most commentators (Vincent, Meyer) see it as expansion of effective ministry. Paul longs to be 'abundantly enlarged', not to be famous, but to be useful.
Five-point outline
- The sin of boasting in others' labors (v.15a; cf. false teachers)
- The hope of increasing faith (v.15b; auxanomenēs)
- The mechanism of enlargement: 'by you' (en humin), the congregation participates
- The measure of enlargement: 'according to our rule' (kanona), God's appointed territory
- The goal: preaching beyond Corinth (v.16)
Illustration hooks
- Gardener and harvester: A farmer plants and waters for months; a neighbor comes at harvest time and claims the crop as his own. That is the intruders' spirit. Paul is the gardener who hopes the garden will bear so much fruit that he can plant new fields.
- Apprenticeship at work: A senior employee trains a junior, then the junior takes credit for the team's success. Ethical leaders name their contribution truthfully but also prepare others to carry the work further.
- Spiritual parenting: A parent longs for a child to grow independent, not to be abandoned, but to be free to bless others. Paul sees Corinth as a maturing child who can 'spare' him for new mission fields.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know when I'm legitimately 'boasting' in what God has done versus taking credit I don't deserve?
- What holds my church back from being a sending base for the gospel instead of a consumer of ministry?
- Is it right to hope that difficulty in relationships or church life will resolve so I can serve elsewhere?
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits at a hinge in Paul's defense of his apostleship. He has just declared that his God-given 'measure' reaches to the Corinthians (10:13). Now he clarifies the kind of boasting he rejects and the kind of hope he nurtures. Notice that Paul does not say 'I hope you grow so I can feel better about my work.' He says, 'I hope your faith grows so that my sphere of influence is enlarged through you.' The connection between congregational maturity and missionary expansion is central. Let the group explore how growth in faith and growth in mission are tied together.
Discussion questions
- What does Paul mean by 'not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labors'? How would that apply in a local church context today?
- The false teachers boasted in the Corinthians as if they had founded them. Why was that claim so offensive to Paul?
- The word for 'faith' here is pistis. Is Paul referring to saving faith, or to maturing trust and stability? How does the context help decide?
- Paul hopes to be 'enlarged' (megalunthēnai) as their faith increases. What does this enlargement look like in practical terms for a missionary or church planter?
- Gill notes that the Corinthians' weakness 'was a hinderance to the spread of the gospel.' How can a church's immaturity slow down the Great Commission?
- What does it mean for a congregation to 'send' or 'enable' a leader to reach further? What resources beyond money are involved?
- In verse 16 Paul mentions 'preaching the gospel in the regions beyond you.' Is your church more focused on internal health or external sending? How might the balance shift?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Acts 5:13 | None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people honored them. |
| Romans 15:20 | yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another’s foundation. |
| II Corinthians 10:13 | But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you. |
| II Thessalonians 1:3 | We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another abounds, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke interprets being enlarged by you as being praised or commended. He argues that once the Corinthians grow in genuine faith and unity, they will publicly speak of Paul's Gospel as a glorious system of saving truth, preparing surrounding pagan regions to receive the message and thus extend the apostle's appointed district.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes contrasts Paul's method with false teachers who claimed credit for churches they did not establish. Paul refused to boast in others' labors or sit idle; instead he aimed to press into untrodden regions where the gospel had not yet been planted, hoping the Corinthians' growing faith would help enlarge his mission field.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses the dishonesty of the false apostles who reaped where Paul had sown with great struggle. They took credit for a church he built through sweat and countless hardships, then disparaged his work. Paul's hope that their faith would grow implies their weakness held him back from reaching new regions.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Paul's refusal to boast in other men's labors directly rebukes false teachers who claimed credit for work they had not done. Paul ties his own freedom to expand his ministry to the growth of the Corinthians' faith, identifying himself so closely with them that their spiritual progress becomes his.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note clarifies that boasting beyond one's proper measure means taking credit for other people's labor. It also expresses the hope that as the Corinthians' faith grows, the apostles will be honored in proportion to their own God-given work, not beyond it.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill says Paul's hope of expanding his ministry to new regions depended on the Corinthians' faith growing stronger. Their weak faith and internal divisions hindered the gospel's spread. Once they were more settled, Paul would gain both leisure to preach elsewhere and a credible recommendation from their improved church.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB sees Paul's delay in preaching beyond Corinth as a pastoral decision rooted in the Corinthians' weak faith. Paul would not abandon them prematurely, yet their growth in faith would become the very stepping stone that enlarges his sphere and allows him to reach farther regions.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that the false apostles' mistake was measuring themselves only by themselves, ignoring anyone who surpassed them. This self-focused comparison bred pride and folly. True humility comes from comparing ourselves with those who exceed us, which keeps us grateful rather than arrogant.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent argues that Paul’s phrase “be enlarged by you” does not mean being praised but having his apostolic field expanded from Corinth into wider regions. He likens this to a tall man who can reach far without overstretching, all measured by God’s own rule.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the believers' increased faith makes them better able to release the apostle for further work. Their spiritual growth becomes the means by which he is enabled to travel and minister to others, going still further.