Why does Paul say, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord"?

Paul says boasting belongs to the Lord, not self-promotion. He adds that the one who is approved is not the one who commends himself, but the one whom the Lord commends. See 2 Corinthians 10:17–18.

Passage context

In 2 Corinthians 10:17–18 Paul closes this part of his argument with a rule about boasting. If anyone is going to speak proudly, the only proper focus is “the Lord,” not the self. He then gives a reason: self-praise does not establish real approval. These lines conclude Paul’s discussion in chapter 10 about how he and his opponents should be measured. He has been challenging a style of leadership that relies on showy self-presentation, comparisons, and letters of recommendation.

Why it matters

Paul ends this section with a simple rule: if someone is going to speak with pride or confidence, that “boast” is to be “in the Lord” (lord), not centered on the self. He then gives the reason: self-commendation (commending) does not establish the approval that counts. The decisive verdict belongs to the Lord.

Read carefully

A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.

Keep reading

Start with 2 Corinthians 10:17-18, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.