New Living Translation
2 Corinthians 1:12
12We 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.
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
10And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. 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. 13Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, 14even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud 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 13:15God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him.
- Job 23:10“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
- Job 27:5I will never concede that you are right; I will defend my integrity until I die.
- Job 31:1“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.
- Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done wrong or am guilty of injustice,
- Psalms 44:17All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant.
- Isaiah 38:3“Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.
- Acts 24:16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.
- Romans 9:1With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.
- 1 Corinthians 4:4My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.
- Galatians 6:4Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.
- 1 Timothy 1:5The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.
- Hebrews 13:18Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.
- 1 Peter 3:16But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.
- 1 John 3:19Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.
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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