2 Corinthians 5:11

τὸν φόβον τοῦ κυρίου. The fear of the Lord; the fear which we feel before Christ as our Judge (Ephesians 5:21), not ‘the terror’ (A.V.) which He inspires. Comp. οὐκ ἕστι φόβος θεοῦ� (Psalms 35:1). S. Paul is conscious that his actions are determined by the conviction that he will have to answer for them before the judgment-seat of Christ.

ἀνθρώπους πείθομεν, θεῷ δὲ πεφανερώμεθα. The two clauses are in marked contrast, an effect which the A.V. spoils by bad punctuation. There should be only a comma after the first clause and more than a comma after the second: men we persuade (Galatians 1:10), but to God we have been made manifest (1 Corinthians 4:5). Of what is it that the Apostle persuades men? Of his own integrity. This explanation brings out the contrast. ‘I have to persuade men that I am honest, but to God I have already been made manifest and remain so.’ The judgment passed by God on his conduct has been made with full knowledge. The prejudices of the Corinthians against him, being the result of misapprehension, can be removed by persuasion, and he hopes that they have been removed: I hope that in your consciences also we have been made manifest. After ἐλπίζω we commonly have the aor. infin. (1 Corinthians 16:7; Philippians 2:19; Philippians 2:23; &c.), but the perfect here answers the previous perfect, and both express what has been and remains manifested. The καί means ‘in your consciences as well as to God.’ He hopes that his self-vindication has been successful, and that he is seen by them as lie knows that he is seen by God.

There is another view with regard to πείθομεν, making it anticipate 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; ‘Realizing the awfulness of the thought of Christ who is the Judge of all, we do our work as an Evangelist; we persuade men to be reconciled to God and so be ready for that day.’ Then, partly perhaps because persuasion suggests the idea of artifice and recalls to his mind the charge of insincerity, he continues, ‘but to God we have been made manifest.’