2 Corinthians 4:2 - Exposition

But have renounced; rather, but we renounced . We renounced them once and forever at our baptism. The hidden things of dishonesty; literally, of shame; meaning, of course, of all that causes shame. Disgraceful as may be calunmies of my Jewish opponents, I have said farewell forever to everything for which a good man would blush. "Honest" was originally like the Greek word καλὸς , a general expression for moral excellence, as in Pope's line—

"An honest man's the noblest work of God."

Fletcher's—

"Man is his own star, and the soul that can

Be honest is the only perfect man."

In craftiness. The word implies all subtle, cunning, underhand dealing ( 2 Corinthians 11:3 ), and it is clear from 2 Corinthians 12:16 that St. Paul had been charged with such conduct. The word is both used and illustrated in Luke 20:23 . Handling the word of God deceitfully. He has already repudiated this charge by implication in 2 Corinthians 2:17 , and he was always anxious to maintain an attitude of transparent sincerity ( 2 Corinthians 1:12 ) by uttering the truth and the whole truth ( 2 Corinthians 2:17 ; Acts 20:27 ), and not adulterating it. He had to meet such insinuations even in his first extant letter ( 1 Thessalonians 2:3 ). By manifestation of the truth . The constant recurrence to this thought shows the apostle's anxiety to remove the suspicion, created by the attacks of his opponents, that he had an esoteric teaching for some ( 2 Corinthians 1:13 ), kept some of his doctrines "The truth" cannot be preached by the aid of lies. The prominence of the word "manifest" in this Epistle is remarkable. St. Paul seems to be haunted by it ( 2 Corinthians 2:16 ; 2 Corinthians 3:3 ; 2 Corinthians 4:10 ; 2 Corinthians 5:10 , 2 Corinthians 5:11 ; 2 Corinthians 7:12 ; 2 Corinthians 11:6 ). Commending ourselves. This is the only form of self-commendation or of "commendatory letter" for which I care. There is evidently a reference to the same verb used in 2 Corinthians 3:1 . Before God (see 2 Corinthians 2:17 ; 2 Corinthians 7:12 ; Galatians 1:20 ). These solemn appeals are meant to show that it would be morally impossible for him to act as he was charged with acting. If he can assert his own integrity he will do so only as consciously in the presence of God.