2 Corinthians 2:17

οὐ γάρ ἐσμεν ὡς κ. τ. λ.: for we are not as the many, viz., the ordinary teachers with whom you meet. The indirect reference is to his opponents at Corinth, though they are not named. At least he is more worthy to fill the high office of which he has been speaking than many who would be only too glad to usurp his authority; cf. chap. 2Co 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:5 for similar comparisons. καπηλεύοντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ : who adulterate the word of God, i.e., the Divine message as revealed in the Gospel (the usual sense in the N.T. of ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:2 and 2 Timothy 2:15). κάπηλος (Sir 26:29) is “a huckster,” and is used in Isaiah 1:22 of one who adulterates wine; so the primary sense of καπηλεύειν is “to make merchandise of” (R.V. margin), which readily passed into “to corrupt” or “adulterate” for the purposes of trade. ἀλλʼ ὡς ἐξ εἰλικρινείας f1κ. τ. λ.: but as of sincerity (our subjective attitude of mind), but as of God (the objective source of our message and of our commission to speak), in the sight of God (sc., in the consciousness of His presence; cf. 2 Corinthians 2:10 above), speak we in Christ, sc., as members of Christ's Body, in fellowship with Him. This solemn and impressive confirmation of what has been said is repeated, chap. 2 Corinthians 12:19, κατέναντι Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ λαλοῦμεν.