2 Corinthians 5:12
in 2 Corinthians 5We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but speak as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.
KJV
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.
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 5
Commentary
11 notes on this verseFor 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.
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.
This site's exposition
take pride in appearances
The word again looks back to 3:1. Chrysostom notes how often Paul heads off the charge of praising himself, and here he hands his friends an answer to the rival teachers. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown render appearances as face, and they set the verse beside 1 Samuel 16:7.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Paul is saying this because of some people who used to take a personal pride in making it known that they had been taught by men who had always been with the Lord.
See how he is continually obviating the suspicion of appearing to praise himself. For nothing is so offensive to the hearers as for any one to say great and marvellous things about himself. Since then he was compelled in what he said to fall upon that subject, he uses a corrective, saying, we do this for your sakes, not for ours, that ye may have somewhat to glory of, not that we may. And not even this absolutely, but because of the false Apostles. Wherefore also he added, "To answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart." Seest thou how he hath detached them from them, and drawn them to himself; having shown that even the Corinthians themselves are longing to get hold of some occasion, whereby they may have it in their power to speak on their behalf and to defend them unto their accusers. For, says he, we say these things not that we may boast, but that ye may have wherein to speak freely on our behalf; which is the language of one testifying to their great love: and not that ye may boast merely: but that ye may not be drawn aside. But this he does not say explicitly, but manages his words otherwise and in a gentler form, and without dealing them a blow. But what is "in appearance?" In what is seen, in what is for display. For of such sort were they, doing every thing out of a love of honor, whilst they were both empty inwardly and wore indeed an appearance of piety and of venerable seeming, but of good works were destitute.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Immediately he removes the suspicion of supposed vainglory and says that by these words we do not praise ourselves, that is, exalt ourselves, extol ourselves with praises, but we give you an occasion to boast and take pride in us before the false apostles who …
Then because they might suppose that the Apostle said this to commend himself, he removes this false supposition, saying, we are not commending ourselves to you again, i.e., we are not saying this for our commendation, as though trying to commend ourselves again. For above …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
We do not say this, as if we thought there was any need of again recommending ourselves to you, but to give you an occasion of rejoicing and praising God, and to furnish you with an answer to those false apostles who glory in appearance, but not in heart, being condemned by their own conscience.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For we commend not ourselves again to you,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For--the reason why he leaves the manifestation of his sincerity in preaching to their consciences (2Co 3:1), namely, his not wishing to "commend" himself again. occasion to glory-- (2Co 1:14), namely, as to our sincerity. in appearance--Greek, "face" (compare 1Sa 16:7).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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 the gospel was a man of whom they need not be ashamed. But give you occasion - This is a very happy turn of expression. The sense is, “You have been converted under my labors. You profess to regard me as your spiritual father and friend. I have no reason to doubt of your attachment to me. Yet you often hear my name slandered, and hear me accused of wanting the evidence of being an apostle, and of being vain-glorious, and self-seeking. I know your desire to vindicate my character, and to show that you are my friends. I, therefore, say these things in regard to myself in order that you may be thus able to show your respect for me, and to vindicate me from the false and slanderous accusations of my enemies. […]
The words behind it
23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| πάλιν | palin | again | G3825 → | 139 times |
| ἑαυτοὺς | he'autous | ourselves | G1438 → | 322 times |
| συνιστάνομεν | sunistanomen | are we commending | G4921 → | 16 times |
| ὑμῖν, | humin | to you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἀφορμὴν | aphormen | occasion | G874 → | 7 times |
| διδόντες | didontes | are giving | G1325 → | 412 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | to you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| καυχήματος | kauchematos | of boasting | G2745 → | 11 times |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | on behalf of | G5228 → | 155 times |
| ἡμῶν, | hemon | us, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἔχητε | echete | you may have [an answer] | G2192 → | 707 times |
| πρὸς | pros | toward | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τοὺς | tous | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| προσώπῳ | prosopo | appearance | G4383 → | 75 times |
| καυχωμένους | kauchomenous | boasting | G2744 → | 37 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| καρδίᾳ. | kardia | [the] heart. | G2588 → | 156 times |
ΟὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
πάλινagain
palinG3825 →139 times
ἑαυτοὺςourselves
he'autousG1438 →322 times
συνιστάνομενare we commending
sunistanomenG4921 →16 times
ὑμῖν,to you,
huminG4771 →2973 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἀφορμὴνoccasion
aphormenG874 →7 times
διδόντεςare giving
didontesG1325 →412 times
ὑμῖνto you
huminG4771 →2973 times
καυχήματοςof boasting
kauchematosG2745 →11 times
ὑπὲρon behalf of
huperG5228 →155 times
ἡμῶν,us,
hemonG3165 →1936 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ἔχητεyou may have [an answer]
echeteG2192 →707 times
πρὸςtoward
prosG4314 →700 times
τοὺςthose
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
προσώπῳappearance
prosopoG4383 →75 times
καυχωμένουςboasting
kauchomenousG2744 →37 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
καρδίᾳ.[the] heart.
kardiaG2588 →156 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
2 Corinthians 10:18For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 10:12
We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 21:2
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
- Luke 16:15
So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
- Romans 2:29
No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come…
- 1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each…
- 2 Corinthians 10:12
Through
2 Corinthians 1:14as you have already understood us in part, so that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20
After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
- Philippians 2:16
as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20
Through
2 Corinthians 3:1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 12:11
I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
- 2 Corinthians 12:11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies12
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; 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); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.