2 Corinthians 5:12

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. FOR. The reason why he leaves the manifestation of his sincerity to their consciences () - namely, his not wishing to "commend" himself again. OCCASION TO GLORY () - namely, as to our sincerity. IN APPEARANCE - Greek 'face' (cf. ). The false teachers gloried in their personal appearance, and in external recommendations () - their learning, eloquence, etc.-not in religion of heart. Their conscience does...

12._For we commend not ourselves. _He confirms what he had said immediately before, and at the same time anticipates a calumny that might be brought against him. For it might seem as if he were too careful as to his own praise, inasmuch as he spoke so frequently respecting himself. Nay, it is probable that this reproach had been cast upon him by the wicked. For when he says — _We commend not ourselves again, _he says this as if speaking in his own person. To _commend _is taken in a bad sense, as meaning to _boast, _or to _brag. _ When he adds — that he _gives them occasion of glorying, _he intimates in the _first _place, that he pleads _their _cause rather than his own, inasmuch as he gives up all with a view to their glory, and he again indirectly reproves their ingratitude, because they had not perceived it to be their duty to magnify, of their own accord, his Apostleship, so as not to...

9-15 The apostle quickens himself and others to acts of duty. Well-grounded hopes of heaven will not encourage sloth and sinful security. Let all consider the judgment to come, which is called, The terror of the Lord. Knowing what terrible vengeance the Lord would execute upon the workers of iniquity, the apostle and his brethren used every argument and persuasion, to lead men to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to act as his disciples. Their zeal and diligence were for the glory of God and the good of the church. Christ's love to us will have a like effect upon us, if duly considered and rightly judged. All were lost and undone, dead and ruined, slaves to sin, having no power to deliver themselves, and must have remained thus miserable for ever, if Christ had not died. We should not make ourselves, but Christ, the end of our living and actions. A Christian's life should be devoted to Chr...

Verse 2 Corinthians 5:12. _FOR WE COMMEND NOT OURSELVES?_] I do not say these things to bespeak your good opinion, to procure your praise; but _to give you an occasion to glory_ - to exult on our behalf; and to furnish you with an answer to all those who either malign us or our ministry, and who only _glory in appearance_ - have no _solid_ _ground_ of exultation, and whose heart is dishonest and impure. St. Paul probably speaks here concerning the false apostle, who had been dividing the Church and endeavouring to raise a party to himself, by vilifying both the apostle and his doctrine....

FOR WE COMMEND NOT OURSELVES AGAIN UNTO YOU - This refers to what he had said in the previous verse. He had there said that he had such a consciousness of integrity that he could appeal to God, and that he was persuaded that the Corinthians also approved his course, or admitted that he was influenced by right motives. He here states the reason why he had said this. It was not to commend himself to them. It was not to boast of his own character, nor was it in order to secure their praise or favor. Some might be disposed to misrepresent all that Paul said of himself, and to suppose that it was said for mere vain-glory, or the love of praise. He tells them, therefore, that his sole aim was necessary self-defense, and in order that they might have the fullest evidence that he, by whom they had been converted, was a true apostle; and that he whom they regarded as their friend and father in th...

EXPOSITION Continuation of the topic that hope is the chief support of the preacher of the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:1). Their self-sacrifice in preaching the gospel of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11). 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 _The hope of the future rife is the great support of our efforts._ 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 FOR. A further explanation of the hope expressed in 2 Corinthians 4:17. WE KNOW. T

FOR WE COMMEND NOT OURSELVES AGAIN TO YOU,.... We have no need to do so, being well known to you; nor do we intend it when we thus speak of ourselves, and of our ministrations: BUT GIVE YOU OCCASION TO GLORY ON OUR BEHALF; suggest some things to you which you may make use of in our favour, for the vindicating of our characters and conduct: THAT YOU MAY HAVE SOMEWHAT TO ANSWER THEM WHICH GLORY IN APPEARANCE, AND NOT IN HEART; by whom are meant the false apostles who gloried in an outward show, in their learning, eloquence, and popular applause they had acquired, and not in the sincerity of their hearts, and the testimony of a good conscience, things which the true apostles of Christ were most ambitious of....

1. _For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens._ Is not this grand courage on the part of the apostle? With all the world against him, and himself «alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake,» he looks at the new body, the new house that God is making for him, and he reckons that, to shuffle off this mortal coil will be no loss to him, since, when he loses the tent in which he lives here, he will go to «a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.» 2-4. _For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed,_ We are not impatient to enter the disembodied stat...

6. CONCERNING THE FUTURE. THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The Earthly and the Heavenly House. (2 Corinthians 5:1 .)_ 2. The Judgment Seat of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:9 .) 3. The Constraint of Love. (2 Corinthians 5:13 .) 4. The Ministry of Reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17 .) The certainty of the future things is brought more fully in view. The apostle had given the great doctrines concerning the resurrection of the body, the coming of the Lord and the blessed hope in his first epistle (chapter 15). In the closing verses of the prece

The emphasis is on the opening words of 2 Corinthians 5:11. Among the clouds of misrepresentation to which he was exposed was the sneering assertion that in some unworthy sense he persuades or gets round men (_cf._ Galatians 1:10). If it can be said of him with any truth at all, this, which he has just stated, is the reason. In any case both his motives and his methods are plain to God and (he will never let go the hope) plain also to the inward judgment of the Corinthians. This does not mean that he is justifying another charge made against him, the charge of commending himself. He is really inviting them to be proud of him, as they will be if they do him justice. So will they be able to face his opponents, who found their claim on outward things such as eloquence ...