God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 5:12
12We are not trying to show you our qualifications again, but we are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us. Then you can answer those who are proud of their appearance rather than their character.
2 Corinthians 5:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
- New International Version (NIV)We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
- English Standard Version (ESV)We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
Context of 2 Corinthians 5:12
10All of us must appear in front of Christ’s judgment seat. Then all people will receive what they deserve for the good or evil they have done while living in their bodies. 11As people who know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. God already knows what we are, and I hope that you also know what we are. We are not trying to show you our qualifications again, but we are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us. Then you can answer those who are proud of their appearance rather than their character. 13So if we were crazy, it was for God. If we are sane, it is for you. 14Clearly, Christ’s love guides us. We are convinced of the fact that one man has died for all people. Therefore, all people have died.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 52 Corinthians 5:12 word by word
Οὐ πάλιν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστάνομεν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀφορμὴν διδόντες ὑμῖν καυχήματος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα ἔχητε πρὸς τοὺς ἐν προσώπῳ καυχωμένους καὶ μὴ ἐν καρδίᾳ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- we commendσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
- notοὐou · noG3756
- ourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- againπάλινpalin · againG3825
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- giveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- occasionἀφορμήaphormē · opportunityG874
- to gloryκαύχημαkauchēma · prideG2745
- on ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- behalfὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- ye may haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- somewhat toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- themὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- which gloryκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- appearanceπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- in heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 5:12
- 2 Corinthians 3:1Do we have to show you our qualifications again? Do we, like some people, need letters that recommend us to you or letters from you that recommend us to others?
- 2 Corinthians 6:4Instead, our lives demonstrate that we are God’s servants. We have endured many things: suffering, distress, anxiety,
- 2 Corinthians 10:8So, if I brag a little too much about the authority which the Lord gave us, I’m not ashamed. The Lord gave us this authority to help you, not to hurt you.
- 2 Corinthians 12:11I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. You should have recommended me to others. Even if I’m nothing, I wasn’t inferior in any way to your super-apostles.
- Proverbs 27:2Praise should come from another person and not from your own mouth, from a stranger and not from your own lips.
- 2 Corinthians 1:14even 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.
- 2 Corinthians 11:12But I’ll go on doing what I’m doing. This will take away the opportunity of those people who want to brag because they think they’re like us.
- 2 Corinthians 12:1I must brag, although it doesn’t do any good. I’ll go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
- Galatians 6:12These people who want to make a big deal out of a physical thing are trying to force you to be circumcised. Their only aim is to avoid persecution because of the cross of Christ.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12For we commend not ourselves? - I do not say these things to bespeak your good opinion, to procure your praise; but to give you an occasion to glory - to exult on our behalf; and to furnish you with an answer to all those who either malign us or our ministry, and who only glory in appearance - have no solid ground of exultation, and whose heart is dishonest and impure. St. Paul probably speaks here concerning the false apostle, who had been dividing the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12For we commend not ourselves again unto you - This refers to what he had said in the previous verse. He had there said that he had such a consciousness of integrity that he could appeal to God, and that he was persuaded that the Corinthians also approved his course, or admitted that he was influenced by right motives. He here states the reason why he had said this. It was not to commend himself to them. It was not to boast of his own character, nor was it…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 The apostle quickens himself and others to acts of duty. Well-grounded hopes of heaven will not encourage sloth and sinful security. Let all consider the judgment to come, which is called, The terror of the Lord. Knowing what terrible vengeance the Lord would execute upon the workers of iniquity, the apostle and his brethren used every argument and persuasion, to lead men to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to act as his disciples. Their zeal…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Paul's opponents boasted about their impressive outward ministry, but they lacked sincerity in their hearts (compare 1 Samuel 16:7; Romans 2:28–29).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. For--the reason why he leaves the manifestation of his sincerity in preaching to their consciences (2Co 3:1), namely, his not wishing to "commend" himself again. occasion to glory--(2Co 1:14), namely, as to our sincerity. in appearance--Greek, "face" (compare 1Sa 16:7). The false teachers gloried in their outward appearance, and in external recommendations (2Co 11:18) their learning, eloquence, wisdom, riches, not in vital religion in their heart…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 5:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5
- 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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