2 Corinthians 4:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:5

For we preach not ourselves - The connection here is not very apparent, and the design of this verse has been variously understood. The connection seems to me to be this. Paul gives here a reason for what he had said in the previous parts of the Epistle respecting his conduct in the ministry. He had said that his course had been open, and pure, and free from all dishonest arts and tricks, and that he had not corrupted the Word of God, or resorted to any artifice to accomplish his designs; 2... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

2 Corinthians 4:5-6. For, &c. As if he had said, The cause of their continuing in unbelief, and perishing, is not in us, nor in the doctrine they hear from us; for we preach not ourselves As able either to enlighten, or pardon, or sanctify mankind; but Christ Jesus the Lord Their only infallible Teacher, all-sufficient Saviour, and righteous Governor; their only wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; and ourselves your servants Ready to do the meanest offices, and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

The life and work of a servant (4:1-18)God’s true servants do not avoid their responsibilities or use dishonest methods. They do not change the plain meaning of God’s Word to suit themselves, but teach that Word faithfully and directly (4:1-2). Not all will believe, because Satan blinds their minds, but true preachers remember always that the message they preach is Christ’s, not theirs. Then, when the hearers allow the light of that message to shine into their hearts, they see Christ as their... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Corinthians 4:5

preach . Greek. kerusso . App-121 . Christ Jesus . App-9 . the Lord = as Lord. App-96 . Compare Romans 10:9 . servants . Greek doulos. App-190 . for , &c. = on account of (Greek. dia App-104 ) Jesus ( App-98 ). read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:5

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.We preach not ourselves ... As Lipscomb declared, "This cannot mean that Paul excluded all reference to himself or his faith and maintained altogether an impersonal tone in his preaching."[20] The meaning is that Paul rejected all personal claims to any human authority on his part, preaching only what Christ commanded him to preach. "All is of God; nothing is of self."[21]But Jesus as Lord ...... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:5

2 Corinthians 4:5. For we preach not ourselves,— "We aim not at exalting our own authority, extending our reputation, or securing to ourselves any secular advantage; but, renouncing all such views, claims, and desires, we preach Christ Jesus as the supreme Lord of his church: and instead of setting up ourselves for your masters, we declare ourselves to be your servants, for the sake of Jesus; and are willing, out of regard for you, and, above all, out of duty to him, to stoop to the humblest... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:5

5. For—Their blindness is not our fault, as if we had self-seeking aims in our preaching. preach . . . Christ . . . the Lord—rather, "Christ as Lord," and ourselves as your servants, &c. "Lord," or "Master," is the correlative term to "servants." read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

The encouragement of Christian ministry 4:1-6 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Corinthians 4:5

Even though Paul occasionally needed to commend himself to every man’s conscience (2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 6:4), he never promoted himself. Instead he proclaimed Jesus Christ as a faithful slave announces his master rather than himself. This is what he had done in Corinth. He did not conduct himself as the spiritual overlord of these Christians (2 Corinthians 1:24). A herald draws attention to himself only to promote the one he or she announces. This is also what Jesus did in the... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

1-6. The messengers of this gospel are not afraid to proclaim it, for they preach Christ, who has revealed the glory of God.1, 2. Paraphrase. ’Having this glorious gospel to preach, we proclaim it boldly. (2) We have nothing to do with methods and practices which cannot bear the light (like those of your false teachers), for we neither seek to undo another’s work by unscrupulous hints and disgraceful insinuations, nor try to gain the favour of the Jewish Christians by false teaching about the... read more

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