2 CORINTHIANS 5:12 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“For 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.”
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart — Paul denies self-commendation but gives the Corinthians ammunition for boasting about him against rivals who boast in external credentials (en prosōpō, in face). The contrast is surface vs. heart (kardia).
Church Fathers on 2 Corinthians 5:12
“We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but speak as giving you occasion of glorying in our behalf.” See how he is continually obviating the suspicion of appearing to praise himself. For nothing is so offensive to the hearers as for any one to say great and marvellous things about himself. Since then he was compelled in what he said to fall upon that subject, he uses a corrective, saying, 'we do this for your sakes, not for ours, that you may have somewhat to glory…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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