II Corinthians 1:12-14: "Conducting Ourselves in the World"
As Paul will often do throughout this epistle, he refutes the false charges made against him by false brethren. This section highlights Paul's confidence in his conscience regarding his actions towards the Corinthians. This section is a wonderful reminder of our testimony in front of others, and how we conduct ourselves in the world. There is no better feeling than to be able to stand before others confidently knowing in your conscience that you have not willingly sinned towards them.
Paul begins, "For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience". As if in a court case, Paul brings his conscience as the main evidence of his innocence. MacArthur writes, "in proving his integrity, Paul's clear conscience was a source of peace, comfort, and joy to him. Others might falsely accuse him of heinous sins, but Paul's conscience did not accuse him. It exonerated him of their charges and protected him from false guilt". Misrepresenting God's Word, taking advantage of the Corinthians, and being a liar was some of the many charges these false witnesses hurled against him. However, Paul knew in his God-given conscience that these were merely false accusations, and that "in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you". Paul knew in his conscience that his actions were done in holiness and with all godly sincerity. There was no false pretense or ulterior motive in anything he said or did. MacArthur writes, "Paul's sincerity flowed from his holiness and purity of life. He characterized it as godly because God was its object and its source". As Paul normally does, all boasting and credit is towards God. He says that only in the grace of God could he say that his motives were right. Paul wrote in I Cor. 15:10, "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me". He is not holding up his standard to "fleshly wisdom", he is relying on the grace of God to clear his conscience of right motives. He does not reason or rely on fleshly wisdom to dictate what is right or wrong, but rather on the holiness of God, through the grace of God. In fact, Paul had confidence in his conduct to the world, knowing that by the grace of God his intentions were purely to encourage and exhort those to embrace Christ. MacArthur writes, "Paul's integrity and godliness should have been especially evident to the Corinthians. They had observed him firsthand during the eighteen months that he ministered in their city (Acts 18:11). The shining purity of his life was set against the dark, ugly backdrop of Corinth's immorality".
Paul continues writing, "For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand". Here Paul is defending the allegations that he had tried to deceive or defraud the Corinthians. Later in Chapter 7:2 Paul will reiterate this, "Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one". There was no hidden meaning or agenda behind what he wrote to the Corinthians. Whatever Paul wrote was for their spiritual benefit. What he wrote he meant, there was no deceit involved. In fact, Paul's desire is that he hopes "you will understand until the end; just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus". Paul's desire was that the Corinthians could fully grasp and understand all that he had written. Not for his sake, but for theirs and the glory of God. Paul is trying to get them to understand that what he writes to them in letters is who he is in person. There is no ulterior motive for what he is writing. He is writing for their good, and he does not have any hidden agenda in what he is writing them.
MacArthur writes, "Paul was no spiritual con man, no huckster twisting the truth of God for his own ends, as the Corinthians well knew. They should not have been ashamed of Paul because he allegedly mishandled and twisted God's Word. Instead, he should have been their reason to be proud, as they were his". Paul is revealing his heart for his fellow believers. He wants them to be proud and confident in Paul's ministry, as he is of theirs. Paul desires them to trust him and his words to them. He wanted them to look forward to the "day of our Lord Jesus" as he did, with confidence and great joy, knowing that his conscience was right and pure before God. Paul wanted them to know he did not fear the false accusations thrown against him, and they should not be concerned about them either. He wanted them to be able to rejoice with Paul in the coming day of the Lord when glorified believers will appear before Christ and when their salvation will be completed. May it be our hearts desire to have a pure conscience before God because of our faith and obedience in Christ. May we be confident in our lives and in our ministries to others, knowing that we are doing it all with proper motives.
Paul begins, "For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience". As if in a court case, Paul brings his conscience as the main evidence of his innocence. MacArthur writes, "in proving his integrity, Paul's clear conscience was a source of peace, comfort, and joy to him. Others might falsely accuse him of heinous sins, but Paul's conscience did not accuse him. It exonerated him of their charges and protected him from false guilt". Misrepresenting God's Word, taking advantage of the Corinthians, and being a liar was some of the many charges these false witnesses hurled against him. However, Paul knew in his God-given conscience that these were merely false accusations, and that "in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you". Paul knew in his conscience that his actions were done in holiness and with all godly sincerity. There was no false pretense or ulterior motive in anything he said or did. MacArthur writes, "Paul's sincerity flowed from his holiness and purity of life. He characterized it as godly because God was its object and its source". As Paul normally does, all boasting and credit is towards God. He says that only in the grace of God could he say that his motives were right. Paul wrote in I Cor. 15:10, "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me". He is not holding up his standard to "fleshly wisdom", he is relying on the grace of God to clear his conscience of right motives. He does not reason or rely on fleshly wisdom to dictate what is right or wrong, but rather on the holiness of God, through the grace of God. In fact, Paul had confidence in his conduct to the world, knowing that by the grace of God his intentions were purely to encourage and exhort those to embrace Christ. MacArthur writes, "Paul's integrity and godliness should have been especially evident to the Corinthians. They had observed him firsthand during the eighteen months that he ministered in their city (Acts 18:11). The shining purity of his life was set against the dark, ugly backdrop of Corinth's immorality".
Paul continues writing, "For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand". Here Paul is defending the allegations that he had tried to deceive or defraud the Corinthians. Later in Chapter 7:2 Paul will reiterate this, "Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one". There was no hidden meaning or agenda behind what he wrote to the Corinthians. Whatever Paul wrote was for their spiritual benefit. What he wrote he meant, there was no deceit involved. In fact, Paul's desire is that he hopes "you will understand until the end; just as you also partially did understand us, that we are your reason to be proud as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus". Paul's desire was that the Corinthians could fully grasp and understand all that he had written. Not for his sake, but for theirs and the glory of God. Paul is trying to get them to understand that what he writes to them in letters is who he is in person. There is no ulterior motive for what he is writing. He is writing for their good, and he does not have any hidden agenda in what he is writing them.
MacArthur writes, "Paul was no spiritual con man, no huckster twisting the truth of God for his own ends, as the Corinthians well knew. They should not have been ashamed of Paul because he allegedly mishandled and twisted God's Word. Instead, he should have been their reason to be proud, as they were his". Paul is revealing his heart for his fellow believers. He wants them to be proud and confident in Paul's ministry, as he is of theirs. Paul desires them to trust him and his words to them. He wanted them to look forward to the "day of our Lord Jesus" as he did, with confidence and great joy, knowing that his conscience was right and pure before God. Paul wanted them to know he did not fear the false accusations thrown against him, and they should not be concerned about them either. He wanted them to be able to rejoice with Paul in the coming day of the Lord when glorified believers will appear before Christ and when their salvation will be completed. May it be our hearts desire to have a pure conscience before God because of our faith and obedience in Christ. May we be confident in our lives and in our ministries to others, knowing that we are doing it all with proper motives.
posted by amesfam | 12:31 PM
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