Could we say this? Could we stand before a group of people, or write in a letter that we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience? Have we lived that kind of a life?
“But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Paul is inviting them to test to see if he has in any way working the ministry of the gospel in a deceptive way. Did they practice cunning? Or tamper with God’s word? Or work in any disgraceful way?
Obviously not. Or Paul would not have invited such examination. Instead, he is saying his ways have been pure in the handling of the Word.
It did not mean that people came to know the Lord easily. The god of this age, the devil, still veils eyes. It keeps them from seeing the light of the good news of Christ.
It doesn’t stop Paul though. He continues to proclaim not him, but Jesus as Lord, and he as the servants of the Corinthians. Why?
Because of the light of Christ shone in his heart. His heart was now to shine the light of the knowledge of Christ to the world.
It’s a beautiful picture of his ministry.
And something that we, too, should reflect.