New English Translation
2 Corinthians 4:2
2But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.
2 Corinthians 4:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- New International Version (NIV)Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Context of 2 Corinthians 4:2
1Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged. But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God. 3But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, 4among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 42 Corinthians 4:2 word by word
ἀλλ᾽ ἀπειπάμεθα τὰ κρυπτὰ τῆς αἰσχύνης μὴ περιπατοῦντες ἐν πανουργίᾳ, μηδὲ δολοῦντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ τῇ φανερώσει τῆς ἀληθείας συνιστάνοντες ἑαυτοὺς πρὸς πᾶσαν συνείδησιν ἀνθρώπων ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butἀλλάalla · butG235
- have renouncedἀπεῖπονapeipomēn · to renounceG550
- the hidden thingsκρυπτόςkruptos · hiddenG2927
- of dishonestyαἰσχύνηaischunē · shameG152
- notμήmē · notG3361
- walkingπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- craftinessπανουργίαpanourgia · craftinessG3834
- norμηδέmēde · norG3366
- handlingδολόωdoloō · to distortG1389
- the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- by manifestationφανέρωσιςphanerōsis · revelationG5321
- of the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
- commendingσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
- ourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
- man’sἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- conscienceσυνείδησιςsuneidēsis · conscienceG4893
- in the sight ofἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 4:2
- 1 Corinthians 4:5So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.
- Romans 1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
- Romans 6:21So what benefit did you then reap from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.
- Ephesians 5:12For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12For 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 2:17For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.
- 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.
- Ephesians 4:14So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,
- 2 Corinthians 5:11Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses,
- 2 Corinthians 7:14For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you, but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has proved true as well.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 4:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2But have renounced - · We have disclaimed the hidden things of dishonesty; , the hidden things of shame; those things which wicked men do; and which they are ashamed to have known, and ashamed to own. Dr. Whitby thinks that the apostle refers to carnal abominations, of which the Jews and their rabbins were notoriously guilty. And it does appear from the first epistle that there were persons in Corinth who taught that fornication was no sin; and it appears…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2But have renounced - ( ̓́ apeipamethafrom ̓̀ apoand ̓͂ eipon). The word means properly to speak out or off; to refuse or deny; to interdict or forbid. Here it means, to renounce, or disown; to spurn, or scorn with aversion. It occurs no where else in the New Testament; and the sense here is, that the apostles had such a view of the truth of religion, and the glory of the Christian scheme 2 Corinthians 3:13-18, as to lead them to discard everything that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Paul's ministry was honest, unlike some other preachers (2:17).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. renounced--literally, "bid farewell to." of dishonesty--rather, "of shame." "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ" (Ro 1:16). Shame would lead to hiding (2Co 4:3); whereas "we use great plainness of speech" (2Co 3:12); "by manifestation of the truth." Compare 2Co 3:3, "manifestly declared." He refers to the disingenuous artifices of "many" teachers at Corinth (2Co 2:17; 3:1; 11:13-15). handling ... deceitfully--so "corrupt" or adulterate "the word…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 4:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 4
- 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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