Tree of Life Version
2 Corinthians 4:2
2Instead, we renounced the hidden shameful ways—not walking in deception or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by the open proclamation of the truth.
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
1For this reason, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy, we do not lose heart. Instead, we renounced the hidden shameful ways—not walking in deception or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by the open proclamation of the truth. 3And even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so they might not see the light of the Good News of the glory of Messiah, 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 4:5Therefore do not judge anything before the time—wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the things hidden in darkness and also make clear the motives of the hearts. Then the praise for each one will come from God.
- Romans 1:16For I am not ashamed of the Good News, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who trusts—to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
- Romans 6:21So then, what outcome did you have that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.
- Ephesians 5:12for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that are done by them in secret.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12For our reason for boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world, and most especially toward you, with simplicity and godly sincerity—not by human wisdom but by the grace of God.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17For we are not like many, peddling the word of God. Rather, in Messiah we speak in the sight of God with sincerity, as persons sent from God.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds might be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion and purity to the Messiah.
- Ephesians 4:14As a result, we are no longer to be like children, tossed around by the waves and blown all over by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of men with cunning in deceitful scheming.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3For our urging is not out of deceit or impure motives or trickery.
- 2 Corinthians 5:11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we are trying to persuade people, but what we are is known to God—and I hope it is known to your consciences as well.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4But as God’s servants, we are commending ourselves in every way—in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
- 2 Corinthians 7:14For if I have boasted some to him about you, I was not put to shame. But as we spoke all things truthfully to you, so also our boasting to Titus has proved to be the truth.
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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