2 Corinthians 5:11
in 2 Corinthians 5Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
KJV
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.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 5
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Knowing therefore - We who are apostles, and who are appointed to preach the gospel, having the fullest assurance of the terrors of the day of judgment, and of the wrath of God, endeavor to persuade people to be prepared to meet Him, and to give up their account. The terror of the Lord - This is, of the Lord Jesus, who will be seated on the throne of judgment, and who will decide the destiny of all people, 2Co 5:10; compare Matt.
This site's exposition
what it means to fear the Lord
on 2 Corinthians 5:11-13
Paul writes since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. The judgment seat of verse 10 gives that fear its weight.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Knowing therefore, he says, these things, that terrible seat of judgment, we do every thing so as not to give you a handle nor offence, nor any false suspicion of evil practice against us. Seest thou the strictness of life, and zeal of a watchful soul? For we are not only open to accusatation, he saith, if we commit any evil deed; but even if we do not commit, yet are suspected, and having it in our power to repel the suspicion, brave it, we are punished.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Knowing, he says, about the Dreadful Judgment, we do everything so as not to lead people into temptation, for this is what the words "we persuade men" mean, that is, we heal them from offenses. For we are subject to condemnation not only when we …
Having shown how the saints prepare themselves for the reward of eternal glory by pleasing God, the Apostle now shows how they prepare themselves for this by helping their neighbor. In regard to this he does two things. First, he shows his own solicitude for …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
So it is that well-grounded hopes of heaven will be far from giving the least encouragement to sloth and sinful security; on the contrary, they should stir us up to use the greatest care and diligence in religion: Wherefore, or because we hope to be present with the Lord, we labour and take pains,
Apology for Seeming Self-Commendation. 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. 13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:93%@v12-14
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
terror of the Lord--the coming judgment, so full of terrors to unbelievers [ESTIUS]. ELLICOTT and ALFORD, after GROTIUS and BENGEL, translate, "The fear of the Lord" (2Co 7:1;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord - This, I think, is too harsh a translation of ειδοτες ουν τον φοβον του Κυριου, which should be rendered, knowing therefore the fear of the Lord; which, strange as it may at first appear, often signifies the worship of the Lord, or that religious reverence which we owe to him; Act 9:31; Rom 3:18; Rom 13:7; 1Pe 1:17; 1Pe 2:18; 1Pe 3:2. As we know therefore what God requires of man, because we are favored with his own revelation, we persuade men to become Christians, and to labor to be acceptable to him, because they must all stand before the judgment seat; and if they receive not the grace of the Gospel here, they must there give up their accounts with sorrow and not with joy. In short, a man who is not saved from his sin in this life, will be separated from God and the glory of his power in the world to come. This is a powerful motive to persuade men to accept the salvation provided for them by Christ Jesus. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; the terror of God confounds and overpowers the soul. We lead men to God through his fear and love, and with the fear of God the love of God is ever consistent; but where the terror of the Lord reigns there can neither be fear, faith, nor love; nay, nor hope either. Men who vindicate their constant declamations on hell and perdition by quoting this text, know little of its meaning; and, what is worse, seem to know but little of the nature of man, and perhaps less of the spirit of the Gospel of Christ. […]
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Εἰδότες | eidotes | Knowing | ||
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φόβον | phobon | fear | G5401 → | 46 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίου | kuriou | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ἀνθρώπους | anthropous | men | G444 → | 549 times |
| πείθομεν, | peithomen | we persuade | G3982 → | 51 times |
| θεῷ | theo | to God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| δὲ | de | and | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| πεφανερώμεθα· | pephanerometha | we have been made manifest; | G5319 → | 45 times |
| ἐλπίζω | elpizo | I hope | G1679 → | 31 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ταῖς | tais | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| συνειδήσεσιν | suneidesesin | consciences | G4893 → | 30 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| πεφανερῶσθαι.¶ | pephanerosthai | to have been made manifest. | G5319 → | 45 times |
ΕἰδότεςKnowing
eidotes
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
φόβονfear
phobonG5401 →46 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
κυρίουLord
kuriouG2962 →711 times
ἀνθρώπουςmen
anthropousG444 →549 times
πείθομεν,we persuade
peithomenG3982 →51 times
θεῷto God
theoG2316 →1312 times
δὲand
deG1161 →2765 times
πεφανερώμεθα·we have been made manifest;
pephaneromethaG5319 →45 times
ἐλπίζωI hope
elpizoG1679 →31 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ταῖςthe
taisG3588 →19766 times
συνειδήσεσινconsciences
suneidesesinG4893 →30 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
πεφανερῶσθαι.¶to have been made manifest.
pephanerosthaiG5319 →45 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 10:31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
it leads to
- Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Luke 12:5
But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!
- Hebrews 12:29
“For our God is a consuming fire.”
- Isaiah 33:14
The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling grips the ungodly: “Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?”
- Matthew 10:28
Through
Jude 1:23save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 4:16
Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
- 1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- Revelation 3:4
But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white.
- 1 Timothy 4:16
Through
Revelation 20:15And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
it leads to
- John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
- John 3:36
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies12
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 11 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.