God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 1:12
12We are proud that our conscience is clear. We are proud of the way that we have lived in this world. We have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity, especially toward you. It was not by human wisdom that we have lived but by God’s kindness.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of 2 Corinthians 1:12
10He has rescued us from a terrible death, and he will rescue us in the future. We are confident that he will continue to rescue us, 11since you are also joining to help us when you pray for us. Then many people will thank God for the favor he will show us because many people prayed for us. We are proud that our conscience is clear. We are proud of the way that we have lived in this world. We have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity, especially toward you. It was not by human wisdom that we have lived but by God’s kindness. 13We are only writing you what you already knew before you read this. I hope you will understand this as long as you live, 14even though you now understand it only partially. We are your reason to be proud, as you will be our reason to be proud on the day of our Lord Jesus.
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 13:15If God would kill me, I would have no hope ⌞left⌟. Nevertheless, I will defend my behavior to his face.
- Job 23:10⌞I can’t find him⌟ because he knows the road I take. When he tests me, I’ll come out as pure as gold.
- Job 27:5It’s unthinkable for me to admit that you are right. Until I breathe my last breath, I will never give up my claim of integrity.
- Job 31:1“I have made an agreement with my eyes. Then how can I look with lust at a virgin?
- Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done this— if my hands are stained with injustice,
- Psalms 44:17Although all of this happened to us, we never forgot you. We never ignored your promise.
- Isaiah 38:3“Please, Lord, remember how I’ve lived faithfully and sincerely in your presence. I’ve done what you consider right.” And he cried bitterly.
- Acts 24:16With this belief I always do my best to have a clear conscience in the sight of God and people.
- Romans 9:1As a Christian, I’m telling you the truth. I’m not lying. The Holy Spirit, along with my own thoughts, supports me in this.
- 1 Corinthians 4:4I have a clear conscience, but that doesn’t mean I have God’s approval. It is the Lord who cross-examines me.
- Galatians 6:4Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others.
- 1 Timothy 1:5My goal in giving you this order is for love to flow from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith.
- Hebrews 13:18Pray for us. We are sure that our consciences are clear because we want to live honorably in every way.
- 1 Peter 3:16Keep your conscience clear. Then those who treat the good Christian life you live with contempt will feel ashamed that they have ridiculed you.
- 1 John 3:19This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and how we will be reassured in his presence.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3However, I’m afraid that as the snake deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from your 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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