2 Corinthians 5:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"We say this," he says, "not so that we may be praised, but so that you may speak freely on our behalf." This also proves his great love for them. "Nor is it only so that you may boast, but so that you may no longer be deceived."

He did not say this openly, but expressed the same thing in other, more moderate words, without reproaching them. He said: "that you may have" something in which to boast "against those who boast in face."

He commands them to do this not simply and without any need, but when the false apostles exalt themselves. For everywhere he adapts himself to circumstances.

Thus he says this not for his own glory, but to stop the mouths of the false apostles, who boast of their works to the harm of the Corinthians. What does "in face" mean? To boast in outward deeds performed for show.

The false apostles really were such, and they did everything from love of honor. Being empty in soul, although they had the appearance of piety and seemed worthy of honor, they were strangers to good works.

And likewise in other places: "Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I" (2 Cor 11:22). "A Hebrew of Hebrews, according to the Law a Pharisee, according to righteousness under the Law blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, these I counted loss for Christ. Indeed, I count all things as refuse, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the Law, but that which is through faith in Jesus Christ" (Phil 3:5-9).

Do you see how he renounced (έξέστη) all the boasts that belonged to him according to the Law, in order to gain Christ? The Savior Himself advises us to do this, as if under the form of a parable, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, who, having found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it" (Mt 13:45-46).

Therefore, if the Apostle came into ecstasy (έξέστη) for Christ's sake, and says that he did this for God, how then is the Son not God by nature? And if this is so, He is not a creature.

That is, although in general I do nothing personally for myself, as the Apostle might say, nevertheless I sometimes seem to go beyond the limits of modesty and am carried toward self-praise. What is the reason?

"For the love of Christ constrains us," the Apostle explains, "as we judge thus: if One died for all, then all died." That is, the contemplation of Christ's love, who died for the whole universe lying in evil, kindles our heart also with love (St. Chrysostom).

This very love, which moved the Lord Jesus to die for me and for all, also constrains me. It teaches me faithfully where and when, without regard for human judgment, I must boldly defend my rights for the glory of God, or by humility build up the salvation of my brethren.

Further, the Apostle appeals to the testimony of God and of the Corinthians themselves. In their souls, in pure consciences, they ought to have felt, and undoubtedly did feel, that they had seen and knew nothing insincere in the Apostle. For they had already become sufficiently acquainted with him.

To speak this way about oneself is not altogether fitting. Therefore the Apostle qualifies his words, saying that he does this in order to move them to speak the truth about him before the false teachers. These boasted in outward appearance, though in actual worth they were in no way comparable to the Apostle.

The hypocritical false teachers sometimes forced the Apostle into actions and words which seemed to some to go beyond measure. Thus the Apostle says: "If we are beside ourselves, it is for God."

Here Bishop Theophan presents the Apostle as though speaking thus: "Although I know that I am acting foolishly, and as though going out of myself by speaking this way about myself, nevertheless I speak because through this God is glorified by my word and by the salvation of others. Let them consider me mad for this. I gladly bear it for God's sake."

"But if we speak humbly and with self-abasement, we do this for you, so that you may learn humility of mind" (Chrysostom). "The Apostle says this not for his own glory, but to stop the mouths of the false teachers. To the harm of the Corinthians, they boast of their works and boast in the face, that is, in outward deeds performed for show."

For it is of very great importance to preserve an unshaken conviction in the high and inviolable dignity of those who handed down the Lord's teaching.

St. Chrysostom says: "See how he always forestalls the suspicion of supposed self-praise. For nothing so offends the ears of listeners as the recounting of something great and extraordinary about oneself. Yet since he was compelled to say something of this kind about himself, he corrects himself, saying: we do this for you, not for ourselves, so that you may have something in which to boast, not we. Yet even you should boast not without reason, but because of the false apostles. We say this, he says, not so that we may be praised, but so that you may be able to speak freely on our behalf. Nor is it only so that you may boast in us, but so that you may no longer be deceived."

This understanding of the Apostle's thought is fully justified by the following words: "that you may have something against those who boast in face and not in heart." "That you may have" what? "Something in which to boast" (St. Chrysostom), "what to answer and what to say in our defense" (Oecumenius), "so that you may learn how you ought to defend the teacher and expose the false words of opponents, who wear a double mask and think one thing but say another" (Theodoret).

"Against those who boast in face and not in heart." This means that you may have something to say before those who boast in outward impressiveness, but do not have in the heart the virtues they display for show.

Outwardly they displayed zeal for God, love for the Corinthians, and even supposed self-denial. But in reality, in the soul, none of this was as it appeared.

St. Chrysostom says: "That you may have something in which to boast against those who boast in face. He also commands them to do this not simply and without any need, but when the false apostles are exalting themselves. He says this not for his own glory, but to stop the mouths of the false teachers, who to the harm of the Corinthians boast of their works. They boast in face, that is, in outward deeds performed for show. The false apostles really were such, and they did everything from love of honor. Being empty in soul, although they had the appearance of piety and seemed worthy of honor, they were strangers to good works."