ACC ~ 2 Corinthians 1 v12 - 14

OVERVIEW:

Paul’s testimony of conscience was made with simplicity and sincerity (AUGUSTINE), qualities that belong most truly to God (AMBROSIASTER) and that come from grace (DIDYMUS THE BLIND, THEODORET OF CYR). They are now bearing behavioral frui. The facts of his suffering ministry (CHRYSOSTOM) speak for themselves (THEODORET OF CYR). His words are backed up by his actions (AMBROSIASTER). Regarding them as partners in his ministry (AMBROSIASTER, CHRYSOSTOM), Paul chides them for having understood him only in part (THEODORET OF CYR).

1:12a | The Testimony of Our Conscience

SIMPLICITY AND SINCERITY. AMBROSIASTER: The boast of Paul’s conscience was simplicity and sincerity, qualities which belong to God’s teaching. In his first letter Paul had criticized teaching based on earthly wisdom, and he alludes to that again here. He accused preachers of that kind both because they preached according to the wisdom of the world and because they were doing it in order to make money. For that reason, Paul was unwilling to receive any payment from the Corinthians. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

CONSOLATION FROM GOD. CHRYSOSTOM: The previous consolation was from God, but now it is the fruit of their own behavior. People who live uprightly will see the power of God at work in their lives and be comforted. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 3.1.

TRUE GLORY. AUGUSTINE: Cato is rightly praised more than Caesar, for, as Sallust says of him: “The less he sought for glory the more it followed him.” However, the only kind of glory they were greedy for was merely the reputation of a good name among men; whereas virtue rests not on others’ judgments but on the witness of one’s own conscience and therefore is better than a good name. Hence the apostle says: “For our glory is this, the testimony of our conscience.” … Therefore, virtue should not pursue the glory, honor and dominion which they sought, even though their good men sought to reach these ends by good means, but these things should follow virtue. There is no true virtue save that which pursues the end which is man’s true good. It follows, therefore, that Cato should not have sought the honors he sought, but his city should have given them to him because of his virtue and without his asking for them. CITY OF GOD 5.12.

1:12b | By the Grace of God

NOT BY EARTHLY WISDOM. DIDYMUS THE BLIND: Earthly wisdom means knowledge of material things. Those who have this kind of wisdom have no room for the wisdom of the Spirit, which they regard as foolishness. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

ADDING NOTHING. THEODORET OF CYR: Paul is saying that he teaches only what he has been taught by the grace of God, adding nothing of his own to it. COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 292.

1:13 | What You Can Understand

BACKED BY ACTIONS. AMBROSIASTER: What Paul says is backed up by his actions. It is through actions that we learn what a person really thinks. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

WRITING ONLY FACTS. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul is not boasting. All he is doing is writing facts which the Corinthians themselves would acknowledge to be true. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 3.1.

WHAT YOU CAN READ AND UNDERSTAND. THEODORET OF CYR: Paul says that, in spite of the accusations leveled against him, he does not preach one thing and think another. The facts speak for themselves and prove that he is right. COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 292.

1:14 | On the Day of the Lord Jesus

PROUD OF YOU. AMBROSIASTER: Paul asserts that his boasting over his obedient children is noticed and that this will be to their advantage on the day of judgment. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

PARTNERS IN HIS MINISTRY. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul cuts at the root of the envy which his speech might occasion by making the Corinthians sharers and partners in the glory of his good works. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 3.2.

THEY HAVE UNDERSTOOD ONLY IN PART. THEODORET OF CYR: Paul says that the Corinthians have understood only in part, because they have not yet rejected the false accusations which had been made against him. COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 292.