2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. I. WITH CONSCIOUS HONESTY. "As of sincerity" in direct antagonism to all duplicity and hypocrisy. No man can preach the gospel effectively who is not a true man — true to himself and to the doctrines he proclaims. He must be uninfluenced by prepossessions, by sectarian bias, by worldly interests or fame. No man can have this conscious honesty — 1. Unless he preaches his own personal convictions of the gospel. Not the opinions of others, nor even his own opinions, but convictions self-formed, vital, and profound. 2. Unless his own convictions have been reached by impartial, earnest, and devout study. The man who thus preaches, preaches a fresh, living, mighty gospel. II. WITH CONSCIOUS DIVINITY. "Of God, in the sight of God," i.e. — 1. From God. He must feel that he has a Divine commission. 2. Before God. "In the sight of God." He must feel that the God who hath sent him confronts him. This consciousness will make him — (1) Earnestly living. His soul will be all excitement. (2) Utterly fearless of man. III. WITH CONSCIOUS CHRISTLINESS. "In Christ." There are two senses in which we are said to be in another. 1. In their affections. Without poetry or figure we are in those, in the hearts of those who love us. The child is in the heart of the loving parent, etc. Thus all Christ's disciples are in His heart, in His affections. They live in Him. 2. In their character and spirit. Thus the admiring student lives in the character and spirit of his loved teacher, the admiring reader in the thoughts and genius of his favourite author, etc. This is the sense that is specially implied in the text. What is the spirit of Christ? It is that of supreme love to the Great Father and self-sacrificing love for humanity. (D. Thomas, D. D.). Parallel Verses KJV: For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. |
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