New English Translation
2 Corinthians 1:12
12For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God – not by human wisdom but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more 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.
- 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 delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again, 11as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many. For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God – not by human wisdom but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you. 13For we do not write you anything other than what you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely 14just as also you have partly understood us, that we are your source of pride just as you also are ours in the day of the 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 13:15Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face!
- Job 23:10But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold.
- Job 27:5I will never declare that you three are in the right; until I die, I will not set aside my integrity!
- Job 31:1“I made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I entertain thoughts against a virgin?
- Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions,
- Psalms 44:17All this has happened to us, even though we have not rejected you or violated your covenant with us.
- Isaiah 38:3“Please, Lord. Remember how I have served you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion, and how I have carried out your will.” Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.
- Acts 24:16This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people.
- Romans 9:1I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying!), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit –
- 1 Corinthians 4:4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord.
- Galatians 6:4Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else.
- 1 Timothy 1:5But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
- Hebrews 13:18Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect.
- 1 Peter 3:16Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.
- 1 John 3:19And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence,
- 2 Corinthians 11:3But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may 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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