English Standard Version
2 Corinthians 1:12
12For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
2 Corinthians 1:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
- New International Version (NIV)Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
- New King James Version (NKJV)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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.
Context of 2 Corinthians 1:12
10He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 12 Corinthians 1:12 word by word
ἡ γὰρ καύχησις ἡμῶν αὕτη ἐστίν, τὸ μαρτύριον τῆς συνειδήσεως ἡμῶν, ὅτι ἐν ἁπλότητι καὶ εἰλικρινείᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ σαρκικῇ ἀλλ᾽ ἐν χάριτι θεοῦ ἀνεστράφημεν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, περισσοτέρως δὲ πρὸς ὑμᾶς.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- rejoicingκαύχησιςkauchēsis · prideG2746
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- the testimonyμαρτύριονmarturion · testimonyG3142
- conscienceσυνείδησιςsuneidēsis · conscienceG4893
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- simplicityἁπλότηςhaplotēs · opennessG572
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- godlyθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- sincerityεἰλικρίνειαeilikrineia · sincerityG1505
- notοὐou · noG3756
- fleshlyσαρκικόςsarkikos · fleshlyG4559
- wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- the graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
- we have had our conversationἀναστρέφωanastrepho · to live/returnG390
- the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- andδέde · thenG1161
- more abundantlyπερισσῶςperissōs · excessivelyG4057
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- you-wardσύsu · youG4771
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 1:12
- Job 13:15Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
- Job 23:10But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
- Job 27:5Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
- Job 31:1"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?
- Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands,
- Psalms 44:17All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant.
- Isaiah 38:3and said, "Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
- Acts 24:16So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
- Romans 9:1I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—
- 1 Corinthians 4:4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
- Galatians 6:4But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.
- 1 Timothy 1:5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
- Hebrews 13:18Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
- 1 Peter 3:16having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
- 1 John 3:19By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;
- 2 Corinthians 11:3But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 1:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12For our rejoicing is this - ̔ . Our boasting, exultation, subject of glorying. The testimony of our conscience - · That testimony or witness which conscience, under the light and influence of the Spirit of God, renders to the soul of its state, sincerity, safety, etc. In simplicity - ̔· from , denoting unity or together, and , to be; or from , negative, and , many; not compounded, having one end in view, having no sinister purpose, no by end to answer…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12For our rejoicing is this - The source or cause of our rejoicing. “I have a just cause of rejoicing, and it is, that I have endeavored to live a life of simplicity and godly sincerity, and have not been actuated by the principles of worldly wisdom.” The connection here is not very obvious, and it is not quite easy to trace it. Most expositors, as Doddridge, Locke, Macknight, Bloomfield, etc., suppose that he mentions the purity of his life as a reason why…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-14Verses 12-14 Though, as a sinner, the apostle could only rejoice and glory in Christ Jesus, yet, as a believer, he might rejoice and glory in being really what he professed. Conscience witnesses concerning the steady course and tenor of the life. Thereby we may judge ourselves, and not by this or by that single act. Our conversation will be well ordered, when we live and act under such a gracious principle in the heart. Having this, we may leave our…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12holiness: Some manuscripts use the word honesty. In Greek, the two words are very close in spelling. Hagiotēti means “holiness.” Haplotēti means “honesty.”Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. For--reason why he may confidently look for their prayers for him. our rejoicing--Greek, "our glorying." Not that he glories in the testimony of his conscience, as something to boast of; nay, this testimony is itself the thing in which his glorying consists. in simplicity--Most of the oldest manuscripts read, "in holiness." English Version reading is perhaps a gloss from Ep 6:5 [Alford]. Some of the oldest manuscripts and versions, however, support…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 1:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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