2 Corinthians 10:12 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

But they, measuring themselves by themselves,— Dr. Whitby would render it measuring themselves by one another; as if they compared themselves with their false apostles, and grew proud in the degree in which they resembled them in accurateness and eloquence, or other things on which those deceitful teachers valued themselves. But it is more natural to think the meaning is, "They looked continually on themselves, surveying their own great imaginary furniture, but not considering the vastly superior abilities of many others; and so formed a disproportionate opinion of themselves:" and this is every where one of the greatest sources of pride.Mr. Locke observes, that this is spoken ironically: and instead of are not wise, he reads do not understand; namely, that they ought not to intrude themselves into a church planted by another man, and there vaunt and set themselves above him who planted it,—which is the meaning of the following verses.