2 Corinthians 1:12; 4:2
The apostle Paul was accused of “commending” himself to the Corinthians at 2 Corinthians 3:1. Paul answers the accusation in the first 5 chapters of 2 Corinthians by explaining that his preaching was not about gaining a following through teaching his personal opinions, convictions, or reason. The gospel is a divine message with divine origins. To preach any other message would be to pervert the gospel. Unfortunately the factious of every generation seek to bring down preachers of truth. Let us examine 2 Corinthians 1:12 and 4:2 that we may see what real preaching is.
The apostle Paul writes, “For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward” (2 Corinthians 1:12). The word “for” connects this thought with what he has said up to this point, i.e., verses 1-11. Paul had suffered for the cause of Christ even to the point of nearly losing his life that others may hear and share in his comfort (i.e., the comfort offered by God; spiritually first, and physically second). To “glory” (Greek – kauchesis), translated “boasting” (Nestle Marshall page 708), is defined by Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon as “reason to boast” (page 424). There is, therefore, one thing that the Christian may be proud of (boast) and that is in our salvation. Let us brag about our spiritual state and put all else in its proper place.
The apostle Paul could boast or brag boldly and confidently because his conscience had been trained by the word of God. The word of God promised salvation to those who obey (cf. Acts 2:38). Faith in Jehovah God will give one confidence in the promises of God. The premise of this verse is that the conscience is to be trained through God’s word as opposed to “fleshly wisdom.” Said confidence of the conscience is a product of “holiness and sincerity of God” in relation to truth. “Conscience” is defined as ‘with – knowledge.’ The conscience is “the faculty of recognizing the distinction between right and wrong in regard to one’s conduct coupled with a sense that one should act accordingly” (AHD 312). The apostle Paul once said, “I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth” and then went on to enumerate those evil deeds that he thought were right (Acts 26:9ff). Paul’s conscience (his distinction between right and wrong) was based on “I verily thought with myself” rather than in “the grace of God” (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:2).
“Holiness” (honest; NCV) (Greek – haplotes) = “singleness: simplicity, frankness” (LS 94). “Simplicity, sincerity, purity or probity (upright) of mind, Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 11:3; Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22” (Moulton 40). 2 Corinthians 11:3 may give us some help here with understanding this word. Paul said, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.” The same Greek word is translated “simplicity” in 2 Corinthians 11:3 and “holiness” in 2 Corinthians 1:12. The idea is that the mind of man is to be trained in one (single) divine truth alone as opposed to “fleshly wisdom” if the said comfort is to follow.
“Sincerity” (Greek – heilikrineia) is defined as “unmixed, without alloy, pure, Latin: sincerus… without mixture, of itself, simply, absolutely” (LS 228). Again, Moulton defines the word heilkrineia as “sunshine, … that which being viewed in the sunshine is found clear and pure; met. Spotless, sincere, ingenuous” (117-118). The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word sincere as “not feigned or affected; true: Presenting no false appearance; honest; pure unadulterated” (1142). These two words, honesty and sincerity, represent minds that are confident and genuinely persuaded.
Far too many times we are hearing our own brethren justify their erroneous living by statements such as, ‘he is honest and sincere in his beliefs.’ My genuine and confident mind will not be the judge of my eternal soul. Just because one’s conscience has been mislead by another’s genuine and confident position does not qualify him for salvation. The word of God clearly reveals the truth of the words honesty and sincerity. One may be honest and sincere in error (i.e., personal convictions or opinions) or honest and sincere in truth. Paul claimed sincerity not in human reasoning but through the “grace of God” (2 Corinthians 1:12). Paul later told Titus that “the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world:” (Titus 2:11-12).
Sincerity and honesty are therefore states of man’s conscience that have been determined by either truth or human reason. Those whose conscience is trained by absolute truth are pure, honest, and sincere in an approved way (cf. Luke 8:15; 1 John 2:4; 3:7-8). When one preaches error, it is a lie no matter what his motive or ignorance of a subject may be (cf. 1 John 2:21). Said erroneous information, no matter one’s state of honesty and sincerity “leads astray” (1 John 2:26; 3:7). Note that the word “sincere” (Greek – heilikrineia) is used only three times in the NT. Once here (2 Corinthians 1:12) and two other times (1 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 2:17). All three of these passages connect sincerity with the purity of truth. Therefore, nowhere in the word of God do we find sincerely erroneous teachers that are approved of God. Such does not exist and is a concoction of human reasoning. The truth of the matter is that when one practices error it is termed “ignorance” and such “ignorance” is to be repented of (Acts 3:15-19). We all understand that one can be honestly or sincerely mistaken (as the word is used in the English language); however, truth and untruths remain what they are. Our honesty and sincerity changes no truth. Brethren, let us be on the side of truth!
We continue on with 2 Corinthians 4:2, “but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (4:2).
Here is where Paul’s teaching separated itself from the doctrines of the false teachers in Corinth. Paul was not “commending” himself to the Corinthians with opinions, personal convictions, or human reason to gain a personal following as he was being charged (see 2 Corinthians 3:1; 4:5, 7). The Corinthians obviously had a problem with placing levels of importance upon men and following them; however, Paul never sanctioned such events (see 1 Corinthians 1:10-12; 3:3-7). Paul, Timothy, and Titus were commending themselves to “every man’s conscience” through truth. When talking to people about the gospel message we need to give book, chapter, and verse for all that we teach. We are not teachers of self opinion, personal conviction or reason. We are to represent the name of Christ alone and through Christ alone man will be saved from the consequences of their sins (see Acts 4:11-12).
Paul, Timothy, Titus, and Sosthenes had “renounced the hidden things of shame.” To “renounce” (Greek – apeipomen) (“we have renounced” {apeipametha}; Nestle Marshal page 715) is to “to tell out; to refuse, forbid; to renounce, disclaim” (Moulton 37). “To speak out, tell out, declare; to forbid one to do, tell him not to do… to renounce, disown, give up…” (LS 90). To renounce is “to give up, esp. by formal announcement. To reject; disown” (AHD 1047). Friberg tells us that the Greek word for “renounce” is a verb in the Aorist tense (Friberg page 555). The aorist tense indicates past action without indicating completion, continuation, or repetition of this action. At some point in the past, Paul and his preaching companions (“we”) had renounced all religious thinking that is not in accordance with “truth.” Inferentially, religious reasoning apart from “truth” is referred to as the “hidden things of shame.” Such reasoning is found shameful when brought out into the open eye of the public. Note that religious ideas that do not have their bases or foundation in truth are shameful no matter how or who delivers it.
Paul now enumerated the shameful acts: “Walking in craftiness” = Greek – panourgia” which is defined as “knavery, roguery, villany” (Liddell and Scott page 591). “Ready to do anything; hence, crafty, cunning, artful, wily” (Moulton page 300). Another shameful act is “handling the word of God deceitfully.” To “handle” is an interpolated word to help the Greek make English sense. The idea is that some would take the word of God and use it in a “deceitful” (“doloo”) manner (“To beguile, ensnare, take by craft” to disguise” {Liddell and Scott page 208}).
The idea of motive comes into the discussion. Many today are claiming that a false teacher is one whose motives are corrupt. They turn to such passages under consideration and say, ‘a false teacher is one who purposely deceives through crafty means.’ Other passages are held dear to said individuals such as 2 Peter 2:1ff. One must remember; however, that Paul is not discussing motives. Paul never had the motive to deceive by craftiness anyone with his false ways (cf. Acts 26:9), yet here (2 Corinthians 4:2) he used the aorist tense indicating that he and others had renounced craft and deceit! What did Paul and his preaching companions renounce? They renounced human reasoning that was contrary to the doctrine of Christ. Therefore, any human reasoning that does not have Christ’s doctrine as its source is deceptive and crafty. It matters not whether one is sincere and honest. Why? Because “craft” and “deceit” are the doctrines of the devil (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:3). Deception and craft are the “devices” of Satan (2 Corinthians 2:11). Thereby Satan deceives many to think that they are preaching truth when in all reality they are doing the crafty and deceitful work of the devil (Matthew 7:15-23). Craft and deceit are the real occurrences when a person teaches error even though he “sincerely and honestly” doesn’t know it is error.
Most erroneous teachers are no doubt “sincere false teachers;” however, we must define the area of sincerity as was discussed above. One cannot be “good and sincere” in truth while preaching error (Matthew 12:33-36). Truth must be preached and received in all its purity (2 Corinthians 2:17). If error is permitted by God on the bases of sincerity of one’s heart then there are people in every denomination saved even though they have not followed God’s plan of salvation. God draws the line by telling us that truth is truth and no ignorance of truth can be a viable excuse for not teaching and acting in truth. Consider the Bible in Basic English on Proverbs 30:6, “Make no addition to his words, or he will make clear your error, and you will be seen to be false.” Solomon writes, “He that keeps the commandment keeps his soul; But he that is careless of his ways shall die” (Proverbs 19:16). Isaiah tells us that it is unacceptable, whatever one’s motive or conscience, to call “evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Ignorance of God’s laws, “sincere” or blatant, is not a viable excuse (see Matthew 22:29; Acts 3:17-19; 17:23, 30). God expects man to hear, learn, and obey (John 6:44-45; Romans 10:17; Colossians 1:7; 2:7). The standard of truth is a light that removes the darkness of ignorance and confusion (John 3:19-21; 2 Corinthians 4:6). Man’s conscience, sincerity, personal opinions, and or personal convictions will not be the standard that judges him in the final judgment (see John 12:48).
Rather than doing the crafty and deceptive work of Satan by teaching things other than the doctrine of Christ, Paul said that he and his companions made manifest the “truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” The jealous seek to stir up a faction against preachers of truth in every generation. Truth must not be mingled with error (2 Corinthians 2:17). Truth will make man’s conscience clean in the sight of God, and thereby Paul “commends” himself (his truthful teaching of Christ’s laws) and his companions to the Corinthians. Those who follow the apostle Paul’s teaching are doing so by divine revelation. Those who follow deception and craft follow the devil’s doctrines.
Commenting on this verse Lenski said, “Truth needs no aids. Nothing is as strong, as convincing, as sure, as good as the truth, any truth (reality), and thus supremely the saving truth or reality of the Word. If truth itself cannot win a conscience, what can you add to truth to make it win? Some of your craftiness, or some adulteration of the truth? Truth needs no outside argument, its mere presence is greater than all argument” (Lenski page 958). Remember, preaching is not about the preacher. Preaching is about representing absolute truth as it is revealed in God’s divinely authorized word.
