12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. 13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end 14 (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Commentary
Vs. 12 "For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you."
The Apostle Paul boasting here is not some sort of personal boast in himself of what he was, had, or had done, rather Paul's boast (and the brethren who ministered the Gospel with him) was simply, ..."the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you." vs. 12
And so though his detractors would often assail his person, motives, or character to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul's conscience was absolutely clear in regards to all his dealings with them. Now simplicity here means an absolute honesty and transparency in ones dealings, (the NKJ says of the word rendered simplicity here that it is the opposite of duplicity, which means deceitfulness, double dealing). While the NIV through the manuscript tradition it is based on renders this word as integrity, being drawn from a word in the original that stresses holiness. While godly sincerity means that what Paul did he did with unadulterated motives. Thus both Paul's conduct in this world, as well as his dealings with the Corinthians was all done in simplicity. People didn't have to second guess his person or his motives, because Paul wasn't trying to profit, exploit, or mislead anyone through his ministering the Gospel to them (see 2 Cor 2:17). Nor was Paul's preaching the Gospel done with fleshly wisdom (see 1 Cor 2:4), that is with the craft and devices of carnal men who try to appear "spiritually wise". Instead Paul was only concerned with presenting the Gospel with simplicity and in sincerity of heart, so as to open the Kingdom of heaven to everyone who will believe in Christ. And so when Paul ministered the Gospel, it was by and through the grace of God, (and not by the doctrines and commandments of men), which he extended even more abundantly to the Corinthians.
And so though his detractors would often assail his person, motives, or character to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul's conscience was absolutely clear in regards to all his dealings with them. Now simplicity here means an absolute honesty and transparency in ones dealings, (the NKJ says of the word rendered simplicity here that it is the opposite of duplicity, which means deceitfulness, double dealing). While the NIV through the manuscript tradition it is based on renders this word as integrity, being drawn from a word in the original that stresses holiness. While godly sincerity means that what Paul did he did with unadulterated motives. Thus both Paul's conduct in this world, as well as his dealings with the Corinthians was all done in simplicity. People didn't have to second guess his person or his motives, because Paul wasn't trying to profit, exploit, or mislead anyone through his ministering the Gospel to them (see 2 Cor 2:17). Nor was Paul's preaching the Gospel done with fleshly wisdom (see 1 Cor 2:4), that is with the craft and devices of carnal men who try to appear "spiritually wise". Instead Paul was only concerned with presenting the Gospel with simplicity and in sincerity of heart, so as to open the Kingdom of heaven to everyone who will believe in Christ. And so when Paul ministered the Gospel, it was by and through the grace of God, (and not by the doctrines and commandments of men), which he extended even more abundantly to the Corinthians.
Vs. 13-14 13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end 14 (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.
And so just as the Apostle Paul conducted himself in this world with simplicity and Godly sincerity so he wrote his Epistles. There is then nothing held back in them, nor is there anything secret about what is contained within them, they are all transparent and easily understood by all who believe and want to obey the truth. Thus the Apostle Paul has much confidence that the Corinthians will understand what he has written to them, and to us all, even to the end (vs. 13). The notion then that one needs to know Greek, or be much learned in order to understand the Word of God for themselves is a fallacy of unbelieving man, All one needs is the Spirit of God who illuminates and enlarges every believers understanding who seeks the truth through God's Word (1 Cor 2; 1 John 2:27). Now that the Apostle says that he is the Corinthians boast, and that they are his boast in the day of the Lord Jesus is both their vindication; the Corinthians because they received and believed the Word of God preached to them through the Apostle, while the Corinthians are the Apostle's boast because he will confidently present them to the Lord as true disciples in the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ (see 1 Thess. 2:19). Therefore though there will always be those external forces that oppose the unity and peaceable fellowship of brethren everywhere, no one will ever destroy what God has made for Himself, and now joined to Himself through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ in one Body of believers everywhere and for all time, and that is us all who believe in Him through His Son (John 10:28-30).
Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Additional Resources Consulted
MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1822). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Word Studies
Simplicity: Str 572; GK 605; LN 88.44; TDNT 1.386; TDNTA 65
Sincerity: Str 1505; GK 1636; LN 88:42; TDNT 2.397; TDNTA 206
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