Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin myself more fully in the preceding Epistle, and my Institutes will furnish a full discussion of it. 1429 When he says in the body, I understand him to mean, not merely outward actions, but all the deeds that are done in this corporeal life.
11. Knowing therefore. He now returns to speak of himself, or he again applies the general doctrine to himself personally. "I am not ignorant," says he, "nor devoid of the fear of God, which ought to reign in the hearts of all the pious." To know the terror of the Lord, then, is to be influenced by this consideration — that an account must one day be rendered before the judgment-seat of Christ; for the man who seriously considers this must of necessity be touched with fear, and shake off all negligence. 1430 He declares, therefore, that he discharges his apostleship faithfully and with a pure conscience, (2 Timothy 1:3,) as one that walks in the fear of the Lord, (Acts 9:31,) thinking of the account to be rendered by him. As, however, his enemies might object: "You extol yourself, it is true, in magnificent terms, but who is there that sees what you affirm?" He says, in reply to this, that he discharges indeed the work of a teacher in the sight of men, but that it is known to God with what sincerity of mind he acts. "As my mouth speaks to men, so does my heart to God."
And I trust This is a kind of correction of what he had said, for he now boasts that he has not merely God as the witness of his integrity, but also the Corinthians themselves, to whom he had given proof of himself. Two things, therefore, are to be observed here: in the first place, that it is not enough that an individual conducts himself honorably and assiduously 1431 among men, if his heart is not right in the sight of God, (Acts 8:21;) and secondly, that boasting is vain, where evidence of the reality itself is wanting.
For none are more bold in arrogating everything to themselves, than those that have nothing. Let, therefore, the man who would have credit given him, bring forward such works as may afford confirmation to his statements. To be made manifest in their consciences is more than to be known by proofs; for conscience reaches farther than carnal judgment.
12. For we commend not ourselves. He confirms what he had said immediately before, and at the same time anticipates a calumny that might be brought against him. For it might seem as if he were too careful as to his own praise, inasmuch as he spoke so frequently respecting himself. Nay, it is probable that this reproach had been cast upon him by the wicked. For when he says — We commend not ourselves again, he says this as if speaking in his own person. To commend is taken in a bad sense, as meaning to boast, or to brag.
When he adds — that he gives them occasion of glorying, he intimates in the first place, that he pleads their cause rather than his own, inasmuch as
1429See Calvin on the Corinthians, vol. 1, pp. 303, 304; and Calvin's Institutes, volume 2. 1430"Tout mespris et toute nonchalance;" — "All contempt and all carelessness." 1431"Vertueusement;" — "Virtuously."