ACC ~ 2 Corinthians 1 v12a

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.

2 Cor