For though I would desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or that he hears of me.
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Ambrosiaster
AD 400
Paul says this because if someone proclaims his own worth in God’s sight he is not unwise, for what he says is true. So if anyone talks about the things which have been revealed to him, he is not foolish, though if he keeps quiet about them he is wise. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
But now I forbear lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be. Lest he should think me an angel or some god, as the Lycaonians did ( Acts 14:10). He could have related more wonderful things about himself, but modesty and humility cause him to conceal them. "All the Saints," says Anselm, "not only do not seek at all for glory above their measure, but they even shrink from that which they have merited." S. Bernard says beautifully ( Ephesians 18 ad Pet.): "We praise others hypocritically, and delight in vanity ourselves; and thus they who are praised are vain, and those who praise are false. Some flatter and are crafty; others praise as they think and are false; others glory in the words of both and are vain. He alone is wise who says with the Apostle, "I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.""
How then did you say before, Would that you could bear with me a little in my foolishness; 2 Corinthians 11:1 and, That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly; 2 Corinthians 11:17 but here, Though I should even desire to glory, I shall not be foolish? Not in regard of glorying, but of lying; for if glorying be foolishness, how much more lying?
It is then with regard to this that he says, I shall not be foolish. Wherefore also he added,
For I shall speak the truth; but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he sees , or that he hears from me. Here you have the acknowledged reason; for they even deemed them to be gods, on account of the greatness of their miracles. As then in the case of the elements, God has done both things, creating them at once weak and glorious; the one, to proclaim His own power; the other, to prevent the error of mankind : so truly here also were they both wonderful and weak, so that by the facts themselves...
