2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 5
Paul an Ambassador of Christ. 2 Cor. 5, 11–21.
The love of Christ his ruling motive: V.11. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God, and, I trust, also are made manifest in your consciences. V.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.
The apostle, first of all, repeats his assertion as to the sincerity of his purpose in his ministry: Since, now, we know the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. This is not a slavish fear, but the true reverence of a servant who is at the same time a dear child of the Lord.
For fear of the Judge’s wrath does not torment the hearts of those that have been rescued from the wrath to come, but the remembrance of the judgment-seat awakens a reverent awe of the holy and glorious God, and causes all true ministers to be watchful and vigilant in their labors. It is in this sense that they persuade men of their sincerity, as Paul did; they prove their disposition to them.
But we have been made manifest to God, the apostle says: God knows the motives that are governing him in his ministry.
And he hopes and trusts that he has been made manifest also in the consciences of the Corinthian Christians, who certainly have had sufficient opportunity to estimate the evidence for his sincerity, among whom he has given so many proofs of the spirit that lived in him.
But in appealing to their testimony in this manner, the apostle again wants it understood that he is not seeking his own glory: For not again are we commending ourselves unto you, but as giving you occasion to glory on our account.
Paul was not worrying about his own glory and honor, since that was in the hands of the Lord, before whom everything was revealed. He was not seeking any recommendation on their part, but, incidentally, his reminder of the facts of his ministry might well serve as a hint to them, give them occasion, cause, to boast on behalf of Paul, that they might have some matter of glorying against those that glory in outward appearance and not in heart. Paul here has his opponents in Corinth in mind who were depending altogether upon the outward impression, while their heart lacked the simple sincerity which characterized the work of the apostle.
Those men might boast of special revelations, or of eloquence, or of letters of commendation, or of Jewish birth. But Paul’s boasting was the faithfulness of his work as a messenger of Jesus Christ.