Teks -- 2 Corinthians 5:12 (NET)

5:12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: 2Co 5:12 - As giving you occasion of glorying

As giving you occasion of glorying ( aphormēn didontes humin kauchēmatos ).

An old Greek word (apo , hormē , onset, rush), a base of operations, material with which to glory, as we say "a tip"only much more.

Robertson: 2Co 5:12 - That ye may have wherewith to answer

That ye may have wherewith to answer ( hina echēte pros ).

Literally, "That ye may have something against (for facing those, etc.)."Paul wishes his champions in Corinth to know the facts.

Robertson: 2Co 5:12 - In appearance, and not in heart

In appearance, and not in heart ( en prosōpōi kai mē en kardiāi ).

He means the Judaizers who were braggarts about their orthodox Judaism.

Wesley: 2Co 5:12

We do not say this, as if we thought there was any need of again recommending ourselves to you, but to give you an occasion of rejoicing and praising God, and to furnish you with an answer to those false apostles who glory in appearance, but not in heart, being condemned by their own conscience.

JFB: 2Co 5:12 - 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.

JFB: 2Co 5:12 - occasion to glory

(2Co 1:14), namely, as to our sincerity.

JFB: 2Co 5:12 - 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. Their conscience does not attest their inward sincerity, as mine does (2Co 1:12).

Clarke: 2Co 5:12 - For we commend not ourselves?

For 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 Church and endeavoring to raise a party to himself, by vilifying both the apostle and his doctrine.

Calvin: 2Co 5:12 - For we commend not ourselves // That ye may have something in opposition to those

12.For we commend not ourselves He confirms what he had said immediately before, and at the same time anticipates a calumny that might be brought against him. For it might seem as if he were too careful as to his own praise, inasmuch as he spoke so frequently respecting himself. Nay, it is probable that this reproach had been cast upon him by the wicked. For when he says — We commend not ourselves again, he says this as if speaking in his own person. To commend is taken in a bad sense, as meaning to boast, or to brag.

When he adds — that he gives them occasion of glorying, he intimates in the first place, that he pleads their cause rather than his own, inasmuch as he gives up all with a view to their glory, and he again indirectly reproves their ingratitude, because they had not perceived it to be their duty to magnify, of their own accord, his Apostleship, so as not to impose upon him this necessity; and farther, because they had not perceived, that it was their interest rather than that of Paul himself, that his Apostleship should be accounted honorable. We are here taught, that Christ’s servants ought to be concerned as to their own reputation, only in so far as is for the advantage of the Church. Paul affirms with truth, that he is actuated by this disposition. ⁵³⁸ Let others see that they do not on false grounds pretend to follow his example. ⁵³⁹ We are taught farther, that that alone is a minister’s true praise, that is common to him with the whole Church, rather than peculiar to himself exclusively — in other words, that redounds to the advantage of all.

That ye may have something in opposition to those He intimates, in passing, that it is necessary to repress the vanity of those that make empty boasts, and that it is the duty of the Church to do so. For as ambition of this nature is a peculiarly destructive pestilence, it is dangerous to encourage it by dissimulation. As the Corinthians had not taken care to do this, Paul instructs them how they should act for the future.

To glory in appearance, not in heart, is to disguise one’s self by outward show, and to regard sincerity of heart as of no value; for those that will be truly wise will never glory but in God. (1Co 1:31.) But wherever there is empty show, there is no sincerity, and no integrity of heart.

TSK: 2Co 5:12 - we // give // appearance

we : 2Co 3:1, 2Co 6:4, 2Co 10:8, 2Co 10:12, 2Co 10:18, 2Co 12:11; Pro 27:2

give : 2Co 1:14, 2Co 11:12-16, 2Co 12:1-9

appearance : Gr. the face, Gal 6:12-14

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 2Co 5:12 - to give you occasion to glory

I do not speak this to commend myself unto you; he had before declared, that he trusted that he was made manifest to their consciences, and so needed not further to commend himself. But (saith he) I speak it only

to give you occasion to glory to glory in me as the apostle of Christ unto you, or to defend me against the scandals and reproaches of those that reproach me, when themselves have no true inward cause of glorying, though they have in outward appearance, in respect of their riches, wit, wisdom, or the like.

Haydock: 2Co 5:12 - We commend not // For whether we be transported in mind

We commend not, nor desire to commend ourselves, but they who may do harm to others, and to the progress of the gospel, make it necessary to speak what may give you an occasion to answer their objections, and even to glory in my behalf against those who glory in face, in outward appearances of learning and talents, but not in heart, being sensible themselves that they have no solid grounds of boasting in this manner. (Witham)

For whether we be transported in mind, and out of zeal for the good of others seem to exceed in speaking of ourselves, it is to God, for God's honour and that of his ministers: or whether we be more moderate, [3] (literally, sober ) that is, if I speak not, even what with truth I might, of my own actions, it is to you, to give you an example of modesty and humility.

Gill: 2Co 5:12 - For we commend not ourselves again to you // but give you occasion to glory on our behalf // that you may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart

For we commend not ourselves again to you,.... We have no need to do so, being well known to you; nor do we intend it when we thus speak of ourselves, and of our ministrations:

but give you occasion to glory on our behalf; suggest some things to you which you may make use of in our favour, for the vindicating of our characters and conduct:

that you may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart; by whom are meant the false apostles who gloried in an outward show, in their learning, eloquence, and popular applause they had acquired, and not in the sincerity of their hearts, and the testimony of a good conscience, things which the true apostles of Christ were most ambitious of.