2 Corinthians 2:17
Verse
Context
Triumph in Christ
16To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?17For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
Sermons
Denny Kenaston
T. Austin-Sparks
Rolfe Barnard
Ian Paisley
John WesleySummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God - God has made Us sufficient for these things by giving us his own pure doctrine, the ministry of reconciliation, which we conscientiously preserve and preach; and we act, not like many among you, who, having received that doctrine, corrupt it; mingling with it their own inventions, and explaining away its force and influence, so as to accommodate it to men of carnal minds. The word καπηλευοντες, from καπηλος, a tavernkeeper, signifies acting like an unprincipled vintner; for this class of men have ever been notorious for adulterating their wines, mixing them with liquors of no worth, that thereby they might increase their quantity; and thus the mixture was sold for the same price as the pure wine. Isa 1:22, Thy wine is mixed with water, the Septuagint thus translate: οἱ καπηλοι σου μισγουσι τον οινον ὑδατι· "Thy vintners mix thy wine with water;" that is, thy false prophets and corrupt priests adulterate the word of God, and render it of none effect, by their explanations and traditions. The word has been used, both among the Greeks and Latins, to signify a prostitution of what was right and just, for the sake of gain. So Herodian, lib. vi. cap. 11; Ειρηνην χρυσιου καπηλευοντες, "Making peace for money." So cauponari bellum is, "To make war for money." In short, the word is used to signify any artifice employed to get gain by making a thing look more or better than it is; or mingling that which is excellent with what is not so to promote the gain of the adulterater. It is used by Aristophanes, Plut. Act. iv., scene 5, ver. 1064, to express an old woman who was patched and painted to hide her deformity. Ου δητ', επει μεν νυν καπηλικως εχει· Ει δ' εκπλυνειται τουτο το ψιμυθιον, Οψει καταδηλα του προσωπου γε τα ῥακη. Not at all; the old woman is painted: If the paint were washed off, then you Would plainly see her wrinkled face. Where see the note of the Scholiast, who observes that the term is applied to those who deal in clothes, patching, mending, etc., as well as to those who mix bad wine with good. Καπηλικως εχει· Πανουργικως· επει οἱ καπηλοι χριειν και αναποιειν τα ἱματια ειωθασι, και τον οινον δε νωθυλευουσι, συμμιγνυντες αυτῳ σαπρον. Vid. Kusteri Aristoph., page 45. But as of sincerity - Εξ ειλικρινειας. See the note on Co2 1:12. We receive the doctrine pure from God; we keep it pure, and deliver it in its purity to mankind. For we speak in Christ - in the things of his Gospel, as being in the sight of God - our whole souls and all their motives being known to him. As the unprincipled vintner knows that he adulterates the wine, his conscience testifying this; so we know that we deliver the sincere truth of God, our conscience witnessing that we deliver it to you, as we receive it, by the inspiration of the Spirit of truth. 1. That St. Paul was a man of a very tender and loving spirit is evident from all his epistles; but especially from this, and particularly from the chapter before us. It was not an easy thing with him to give a reproof; and nothing but a sense of his duty to God and his Church could have led him to use his apostolical power, to inflict spiritual punishment on transgressors. He felt like a loving and tender father, who, being obliged to correct his froward and disobedient child, feels in his own heart the pain of a hundred blows for that occasioned by one laid on the body of his son. There are some ministers who think nothing of cutting off members from the Church of Christ; they seem to do it, if not cheerfully, yet with indifference and unconcern! How can this be? Nothing but absolute duty to God should induce any man to separate any person from the visible Church; and then it must be on the conviction that the case is totally hopeless. And who, even in those circumstances, that knows the worth of a soul, can do it without torture of heart? 2. We must not only love the doctrines, but also the morality of the Gospel. He who loves this will not corrupt it; but, as Quesnel says truly, in order to love the truth a man must practice it; as in order to practice it he must love it. That a minister, says he, may preach the word of God in such a manner as is worthy of him, he must, with St. Paul, be always mindful of these three things: 1. That he be sent by God, and that he speak directly from him, and as his ambassador. 2. That he speak as in his presence, and under his immediate inspection. 3. That he consider himself as being in the place of Christ, and endeavor to minister to the souls of men, as he has reason to believe Christ would do, were he in the place; and as he knows Christ did, when he sojourned among men. The minister of the Gospel is Christ's ambassador; and he prays men in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God. See Co2 5:20. The people should consider the nature of this embassage, and receive it as coming immediately from God, that it may accomplish the end for which he has sent it.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
not as many-- (Co2 11:18; Phi 2:21). Rather, "the many," namely, the false teachers of whom he treats (tenth through twelfth chapters, especially Co2 11:13; Th1 2:3). which corrupt--Greek, "adulterating, as hucksters do wine for gain" (Co2 4:2; Isa 1:22; Pe2 2:3, "Make merchandise of you"). as of sincerity . . . as of God--as one speaking from (out of) sincerity, as from (that is, by the command of, and so in dependence on) God. in Christ's--as united to Him in living membership, and doing His work (compare Co2 12:19). The whole Gospel must be delivered such as it is, without concession to men's corruptions, and without selfish aims, if it is to be blessed with success (Act 20:27). Next: 2 Corinthians Chapter 3
John Gill Bible Commentary
For we are not as many,.... The apostle here removes from himself, and other ministers of the Gospel, a character which belonged not to them, but to the false apostles; who are described by their number many; there were great swarms of false teachers in the early times of Christianity; see Jo1 2:18; some copies read, "as the rest": and so the Syriac and Arabic versions; and also by their quality, which corrupt the word of God; by "the word of God", may be meant the Scriptures in general, which are from God, contain his will, and which he uses for the good of men, and his own glory, and may be corrupted by false glosses, and human mixtures, and by adding to them, or taking from them; or the Gospel in particular, which is the word of truth, of faith, righteousness, reconciliation, and salvation, and which was corrupted by these false teachers, by making merchandise of it; they huckstered the word of God, made gain of it, sought merely their own worldly interest and advantage in it, and so mixed it with their own vain philosophy, to please the carnal ears and hearts of men; they blended law and Gospel, grace and works, in the business of salvation; they did, as peddling merchants do, mix good and bad commodities together, and then vend them for sound ware; or as vintners, who mix their wine with water, and sell it for neat wine. The Septuagint interpreters on Isa 1:22, translate the last clause of that verse thus, , "thy vintners mix wine with water"; which may be understood in a moral or spiritual sense; so did these men mix, and hereby corrupt the Gospel, the word of God; and so the Syriac version reads the words "who mix the word of God": now the apostle says, they did not do so; they delivered out the word pure and unmixed, without any corruption or adulteration: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, says he, speak we in Christ; they spoke "in Christ", in the name of Christ, of or concerning him, and him only, and freely, fully, and plainly, as God's free gift, and the only way of salvation without the works of men: and they spoke, "as of sincerity"; what they delivered was the sincere milk of the word; the manner in which they did it was sincere, with all integrity and faithfulness; and so were their views, which were not their own profit and applause, but the glory of God and the good of souls; they spoke in Christ, and with all sincerity, "as of God"; by whom they were called and sent forth to speak in his name, and from whom they received the Gospel, and gifts, and abilities to preach it; and all this they did, in the sight of God, as the searcher of hearts, and to whom they knew they must give an account of their ministry another day. Next: 2 Corinthians Chapter 3
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:17 Paul contrasts his service with that of his opponents. • They preach for personal profit and adulterate the truth, like merchants in Paul’s day who offered shoddy goods, or innkeepers who watered down the wine. By contrast, Paul preached with sincerity and with Christ’s authority (cp. 1:12; 4:2). Paul’s denial of mercenary motives reemerges in 11:1–12:21.
2 Corinthians 2:17
Triumph in Christ
16To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?17For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Fren-18 Fondements Apostoliques - La Vraie Prdication
By Art Katz15K1:21:25ApostolicDEU 4:2JER 23:362CO 2:172TI 4:2In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that the words he speaks are not his own, but are given to him by God. He shares his experience of feeling physically weak and disoriented, but still having the courage to preach the message God has given him. The speaker discusses the temptation to rely on previous successful sermons and please the audience, but emphasizes the importance of preaching the truth, even if it is uncomfortable or controversial. He challenges the idea that preaching should be about constructing pretty sermons to comfort and please the congregation, and instead emphasizes the need to use the word of God to prove, rebuke, and exalt.
Paul the Apostle - a Vibrant Life (Part 3)
By Denny Kenaston2.1K1:09:36Paul The ApostleMAT 6:332CO 2:172CO 4:2In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of living a truthful and righteous life as a testament to one's faith. He refers to the apostle Paul as an example of someone who manifested the truth through his actions and conduct. The speaker also mentions a powerful autobiographical sermon by Paul in 1 Thessalonians chapter two, where Paul describes how he and his apostolic team conducted themselves in Thessalonica. The sermon encourages believers to be careful with their words and actions, so as not to offend others and bring blame to the ministry.
The Ministry of the Church - Part 4
By T. Austin-Sparks1.7K30:39Church2CO 2:172CO 3:22CO 3:62CO 3:182CO 4:3In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being living epistles of Christ. He explains that the gospel spreads not only through preaching, but also through the way believers live their lives as testimonies of Christ. The speaker challenges the idea of needing letters of commendation or certificates of apostleship, stating that believers themselves are the evidence of their faith. He uses the example of the Apostle Paul, who was discredited and without credentials, yet his ministry was powerful because he was an epistle of Christ.
A Message on the Cross
By Rolfe Barnard1.2K53:36CrossPSA 11:3MAT 5:17MAT 22:37JHN 3:16ROM 3:23ROM 6:232CO 2:17In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing the utter need for a substitute to die in our place and a Lord to rule over our lives. He highlights how society has neglected the law of God and instead embraced lawlessness. The speaker explains that the law of God, represented by Jesus Christ hanging on the cross, is necessary to understand and appreciate the good news of God's actions in Jesus Christ. The sermon concludes with a plea for people to recognize their desperate need for Jesus and to fully commit to Him.
The Rule of Faith
By Ian Paisley0DEU 4:2MAT 15:3JHN 8:322CO 2:17GAL 1:8COL 2:81TH 5:212TI 3:162PE 3:16REV 22:18Ian Paisley preaches about the importance of upholding the Sacred Scriptures as the Word of God and the ultimate authority in matters of faith and doctrine. He emphasizes the need to test all teachings and traditions against the standard of the Bible, rejecting anything that contradicts its clear teachings. Paisley highlights the denial of the sufficiency of Scripture and the right of private judgment by the Papal priesthood, leading to dangerous doctrines and practices. He exposes the falsification of Scriptures by the Popish priesthood to support unbiblical traditions like penance, human merit, and purgatory. Paisley condemns the violent hostility of Popery towards Bible societies and the burning of Bibles as evidence of their opposition to the Word of God.
On Corrupting the Word of God
By John Wesley0Integrity in PreachingSincerity in Ministry2CO 2:17REV 22:18John Wesley preaches on the integrity of preaching the Word of God, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and the dangers of corrupting Scripture through human mixtures and false interpretations. He argues that true preachers must convey the genuine message of God without alteration, and that their actions should reflect their words to gain the trust of their audience. Wesley warns against those who dilute the gospel for personal gain or to please others, stressing that the true purpose of preaching is the spiritual benefit of the listeners. He concludes that preachers must boldly proclaim the entirety of Scripture, regardless of its reception, as they are accountable to God for their message.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God - God has made Us sufficient for these things by giving us his own pure doctrine, the ministry of reconciliation, which we conscientiously preserve and preach; and we act, not like many among you, who, having received that doctrine, corrupt it; mingling with it their own inventions, and explaining away its force and influence, so as to accommodate it to men of carnal minds. The word καπηλευοντες, from καπηλος, a tavernkeeper, signifies acting like an unprincipled vintner; for this class of men have ever been notorious for adulterating their wines, mixing them with liquors of no worth, that thereby they might increase their quantity; and thus the mixture was sold for the same price as the pure wine. Isa 1:22, Thy wine is mixed with water, the Septuagint thus translate: οἱ καπηλοι σου μισγουσι τον οινον ὑδατι· "Thy vintners mix thy wine with water;" that is, thy false prophets and corrupt priests adulterate the word of God, and render it of none effect, by their explanations and traditions. The word has been used, both among the Greeks and Latins, to signify a prostitution of what was right and just, for the sake of gain. So Herodian, lib. vi. cap. 11; Ειρηνην χρυσιου καπηλευοντες, "Making peace for money." So cauponari bellum is, "To make war for money." In short, the word is used to signify any artifice employed to get gain by making a thing look more or better than it is; or mingling that which is excellent with what is not so to promote the gain of the adulterater. It is used by Aristophanes, Plut. Act. iv., scene 5, ver. 1064, to express an old woman who was patched and painted to hide her deformity. Ου δητ', επει μεν νυν καπηλικως εχει· Ει δ' εκπλυνειται τουτο το ψιμυθιον, Οψει καταδηλα του προσωπου γε τα ῥακη. Not at all; the old woman is painted: If the paint were washed off, then you Would plainly see her wrinkled face. Where see the note of the Scholiast, who observes that the term is applied to those who deal in clothes, patching, mending, etc., as well as to those who mix bad wine with good. Καπηλικως εχει· Πανουργικως· επει οἱ καπηλοι χριειν και αναποιειν τα ἱματια ειωθασι, και τον οινον δε νωθυλευουσι, συμμιγνυντες αυτῳ σαπρον. Vid. Kusteri Aristoph., page 45. But as of sincerity - Εξ ειλικρινειας. See the note on Co2 1:12. We receive the doctrine pure from God; we keep it pure, and deliver it in its purity to mankind. For we speak in Christ - in the things of his Gospel, as being in the sight of God - our whole souls and all their motives being known to him. As the unprincipled vintner knows that he adulterates the wine, his conscience testifying this; so we know that we deliver the sincere truth of God, our conscience witnessing that we deliver it to you, as we receive it, by the inspiration of the Spirit of truth. 1. That St. Paul was a man of a very tender and loving spirit is evident from all his epistles; but especially from this, and particularly from the chapter before us. It was not an easy thing with him to give a reproof; and nothing but a sense of his duty to God and his Church could have led him to use his apostolical power, to inflict spiritual punishment on transgressors. He felt like a loving and tender father, who, being obliged to correct his froward and disobedient child, feels in his own heart the pain of a hundred blows for that occasioned by one laid on the body of his son. There are some ministers who think nothing of cutting off members from the Church of Christ; they seem to do it, if not cheerfully, yet with indifference and unconcern! How can this be? Nothing but absolute duty to God should induce any man to separate any person from the visible Church; and then it must be on the conviction that the case is totally hopeless. And who, even in those circumstances, that knows the worth of a soul, can do it without torture of heart? 2. We must not only love the doctrines, but also the morality of the Gospel. He who loves this will not corrupt it; but, as Quesnel says truly, in order to love the truth a man must practice it; as in order to practice it he must love it. That a minister, says he, may preach the word of God in such a manner as is worthy of him, he must, with St. Paul, be always mindful of these three things: 1. That he be sent by God, and that he speak directly from him, and as his ambassador. 2. That he speak as in his presence, and under his immediate inspection. 3. That he consider himself as being in the place of Christ, and endeavor to minister to the souls of men, as he has reason to believe Christ would do, were he in the place; and as he knows Christ did, when he sojourned among men. The minister of the Gospel is Christ's ambassador; and he prays men in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God. See Co2 5:20. The people should consider the nature of this embassage, and receive it as coming immediately from God, that it may accomplish the end for which he has sent it.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
not as many-- (Co2 11:18; Phi 2:21). Rather, "the many," namely, the false teachers of whom he treats (tenth through twelfth chapters, especially Co2 11:13; Th1 2:3). which corrupt--Greek, "adulterating, as hucksters do wine for gain" (Co2 4:2; Isa 1:22; Pe2 2:3, "Make merchandise of you"). as of sincerity . . . as of God--as one speaking from (out of) sincerity, as from (that is, by the command of, and so in dependence on) God. in Christ's--as united to Him in living membership, and doing His work (compare Co2 12:19). The whole Gospel must be delivered such as it is, without concession to men's corruptions, and without selfish aims, if it is to be blessed with success (Act 20:27). Next: 2 Corinthians Chapter 3
John Gill Bible Commentary
For we are not as many,.... The apostle here removes from himself, and other ministers of the Gospel, a character which belonged not to them, but to the false apostles; who are described by their number many; there were great swarms of false teachers in the early times of Christianity; see Jo1 2:18; some copies read, "as the rest": and so the Syriac and Arabic versions; and also by their quality, which corrupt the word of God; by "the word of God", may be meant the Scriptures in general, which are from God, contain his will, and which he uses for the good of men, and his own glory, and may be corrupted by false glosses, and human mixtures, and by adding to them, or taking from them; or the Gospel in particular, which is the word of truth, of faith, righteousness, reconciliation, and salvation, and which was corrupted by these false teachers, by making merchandise of it; they huckstered the word of God, made gain of it, sought merely their own worldly interest and advantage in it, and so mixed it with their own vain philosophy, to please the carnal ears and hearts of men; they blended law and Gospel, grace and works, in the business of salvation; they did, as peddling merchants do, mix good and bad commodities together, and then vend them for sound ware; or as vintners, who mix their wine with water, and sell it for neat wine. The Septuagint interpreters on Isa 1:22, translate the last clause of that verse thus, , "thy vintners mix wine with water"; which may be understood in a moral or spiritual sense; so did these men mix, and hereby corrupt the Gospel, the word of God; and so the Syriac version reads the words "who mix the word of God": now the apostle says, they did not do so; they delivered out the word pure and unmixed, without any corruption or adulteration: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, says he, speak we in Christ; they spoke "in Christ", in the name of Christ, of or concerning him, and him only, and freely, fully, and plainly, as God's free gift, and the only way of salvation without the works of men: and they spoke, "as of sincerity"; what they delivered was the sincere milk of the word; the manner in which they did it was sincere, with all integrity and faithfulness; and so were their views, which were not their own profit and applause, but the glory of God and the good of souls; they spoke in Christ, and with all sincerity, "as of God"; by whom they were called and sent forth to speak in his name, and from whom they received the Gospel, and gifts, and abilities to preach it; and all this they did, in the sight of God, as the searcher of hearts, and to whom they knew they must give an account of their ministry another day. Next: 2 Corinthians Chapter 3
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:17 Paul contrasts his service with that of his opponents. • They preach for personal profit and adulterate the truth, like merchants in Paul’s day who offered shoddy goods, or innkeepers who watered down the wine. By contrast, Paul preached with sincerity and with Christ’s authority (cp. 1:12; 4:2). Paul’s denial of mercenary motives reemerges in 11:1–12:21.