Paul is criticizing those who in the inflated pride of their own presumption have a lower opinion of him than he deserved and who imagined that they had no need of his teaching.
Source: COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES
2 Corinthians 10:7
7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
Commentaries
"Ye look at the things that are before your face." Behold here also prudence. For having rebuked those that deceived them, he confined not his remarks to them, but he leaps away from them to these too; and he does so constantly. For, in truth, he scourgeth not those only that lead astray, but the deceived also. For had he let even them go without calling them to an account, they would not so easily have been reformed by what was said to the others; but would have been greatly elated even, as not being amenable to accusations. Therefore he scourgeth them also. And this is not all that is to be admired in him, but this farther, that he rebukes either party in a manner suitable to each. Hear at least what he says to these, "Ye look at the things that are before your face." The accusation is no light one; but a mark of men exceedingly easy to be deceived. Now what he says is this, 'ye test by what appear, by things carnal, by things bodily.' What is meant by 'what appear?' If one is rich, if one is puffed up, if one is surrounded by many flatterers, if one says great things of himself, if one is vain-glorious, if one makes a pretence of virtue without having virtue, for this is the meaning of, "ye look at the things that are before your face."
"If any man trust in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ's, even so also are we." For he does not wish to be vehement at the beginning, but he increases and draws to a head by little and little. But observe here how much harshness and covert meaning there is. He shows this by using the words "with himself." For he saith, 'Let him not wait to learn this from us; that is, by our rebuke of himself,' but "let him consider this with himself, that even as he is Christ's, so also are we;" not that he was Christ's in such manner as the other was, but, "that even as he is Christ's, so also am I Christ's. Thus far the community holds good: for it is not surely the case that he indeed is Christ's, but I some other's. Then having laid down this equality between them, he goes on to add wherein he exceeded.
"If any man trust in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ's, even so also are we." For he does not wish to be vehement at the beginning, but he increases and draws to a head by little and little. But observe here how much harshness and covert meaning there is. He shows this by using the words "with himself." For he saith, 'Let him not wait to learn this from us; that is, by our rebuke of himself,' but "let him consider this with himself, that even as he is Christ's, so also are we;" not that he was Christ's in such manner as the other was, but, "that even as he is Christ's, so also am I Christ's. Thus far the community holds good: for it is not surely the case that he indeed is Christ's, but I some other's. Then having laid down this equality between them, he goes on to add wherein he exceeded.
Source: Homily 22 on 2 Corinthians
No one is more foolish than the person who thinks that he alone belongs to Christ.
Source: COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 10
This is to be read as a censorious remark, for the people were not judging the truth from works but from superficial appearances only.
Source: PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH
Not only does he frighten the deceivers, but he also rebukes the deceived; therefore he says: recognize by their deeds who is arrogant, who is rich, who hides behind a mask of virtue.
The false apostles boasted that they were Christ's and supposedly eyewitnesses of the Word. "Of himself" he said instead of: let him not wait for our exposure against him, but let him consider for himself that precisely because he is Christ's, he has no advantage over us. For I too cannot be an apostle of anyone else, even if he were Christ's. But here he expressed a concession, since he had already shown earlier how much higher he was.
The false apostles boasted that they were Christ's and supposedly eyewitnesses of the Word. "Of himself" he said instead of: let him not wait for our exposure against him, but let him consider for himself that precisely because he is Christ's, he has no advantage over us. For I too cannot be an apostle of anyone else, even if he were Christ's. But here he expressed a concession, since he had already shown earlier how much higher he was.
Source: Commentary on 2 Corinthians
Above, the Apostle excused himself by reason; here he excuses himself by the evidence of the fact. In this regard he does two things. First, he submits his excuse to his hearers to judge; secondly, he pursues his cause (v. 7b).
He says therefore: although reason shows that the charge laid against me by the false apostles is false, nevertheless, if some among you are not convinced by reason and refuse to acquiesce to it, at least look at, i.e., consider, the things that are before your eyes, i.e., that are evident, concerning me. But he submits the judgment of his cause to them in order to indicate how secure he is in his heart: "Turn, I pray, let no wrong be done" (Job. 6:29). But this is contrary to Jn. (7:24): "Do not judge by appearances." Therefore it is not proper for him to say, what is before your eyes. I answer that the phrase, what is before your eyes [according to outward appearance], is taken there for things that appear outwardly in a man, namely, for that which appear to be true, according to which a man should not judge, because sometimes the contrary is present in the heart: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matt. 7:15). But here it is taken for the Gospel's truth itself and the evidence of the fact according to which judgment can be made. A Gloss explains it another way, namely, according to outward appearance, i.e., of the false apostles, see, i.e., look to. As if to say: consider the facts about them, because it is impossible that among the many good things they pretend they not do some things from which you can recognize their wicked intention: "Thus you will know them by their fruits" (Matt. 7:20).
He says therefore: see this, I say, according to outward appearance, that if any one of the false apostles is confident that he is Christ's on account of some great thing he has done or some spiritual gift he has received from Christ, let him remind himself, i.e., carefully consider in his heart, that as he is Christ's, so are we. As if to say: whatever is found in them is also found in us; hence we also should be considered as Christ's: "And I think I have the Spirit of God" (1 Cor. 7:40); "Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him" (Rom. 8:9).
He says therefore: although reason shows that the charge laid against me by the false apostles is false, nevertheless, if some among you are not convinced by reason and refuse to acquiesce to it, at least look at, i.e., consider, the things that are before your eyes, i.e., that are evident, concerning me. But he submits the judgment of his cause to them in order to indicate how secure he is in his heart: "Turn, I pray, let no wrong be done" (Job. 6:29). But this is contrary to Jn. (7:24): "Do not judge by appearances." Therefore it is not proper for him to say, what is before your eyes. I answer that the phrase, what is before your eyes [according to outward appearance], is taken there for things that appear outwardly in a man, namely, for that which appear to be true, according to which a man should not judge, because sometimes the contrary is present in the heart: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matt. 7:15). But here it is taken for the Gospel's truth itself and the evidence of the fact according to which judgment can be made. A Gloss explains it another way, namely, according to outward appearance, i.e., of the false apostles, see, i.e., look to. As if to say: consider the facts about them, because it is impossible that among the many good things they pretend they not do some things from which you can recognize their wicked intention: "Thus you will know them by their fruits" (Matt. 7:20).
He says therefore: see this, I say, according to outward appearance, that if any one of the false apostles is confident that he is Christ's on account of some great thing he has done or some spiritual gift he has received from Christ, let him remind himself, i.e., carefully consider in his heart, that as he is Christ's, so are we. As if to say: whatever is found in them is also found in us; hence we also should be considered as Christ's: "And I think I have the Spirit of God" (1 Cor. 7:40); "Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him" (Rom. 8:9).
Source: Commentary on 2 Corinthians