12For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
Linguistic Insight
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Cross-References
From the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. …
But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. …
For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
Commentary
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible (1710)
(vv. 12-15)Here observe, I. The apostle makes an apology for seeming to commend himself and his fellow-labourers (2 Cor. 5:13), and tells them, 1. It was not to commend themselves, nor for their own sakes, that he had spoken of their fidelity and diligence in the 2 Cor. 5:1-11; nor was he willing to suspect their good opinion of him. But, 2. The true reason was this, to put an argument in their mouths wherew…
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