"Commending Ourselves To Every Man's Conscience In The Sight Of God"

2 Cor. 4:2b

 To present ourselves, or to receive others, as worthy of acceptance and confidence is a serious matter. To pretend to be something we are not is hypocrisy (Matt. 23); a hasty acceptance of someone can make us a sharer in their sins, (1 Tim. 5:22); and the use of fleshly standards under such circumstances is wrong (2 Cor. 5:16-17; 10:12). Thus it was that Paul wrote to those who would "walk by faith" about "commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God".

The Context

This statement is in a letter which is largely Paul's defense of his ministry and apostleship. It is in such a context that we must interpret this verse.

2:14-17--As Paul proclaimed God's knowledge he wasn't like "the many" who preached a corrupted gospel for personal gain. He spoke in purity, not perverting it. 3:1-3--Paul doesn't promote himself or seek letters of commendation either to or from the Corinthians. The Corinthians were his "letter of commendation". 3:4-18--The new covenant that Paul preached. 4:1-ff--In his ministry Paul didn't stoop to the tactics others used. Instead, he rejected such shameful methods as unscrupulous conduct and adulterating the word of God, and recommended himself to the consciences of men by "setting forth the truth plainly" (NIV) rather than corrupting it in order to please them. 

The Application Today

While these words are to be applied primarily to Paul and the defense of his apostolic ministry, there are lessons we can learn and principles we can apply today:

Evangelists. There is nothing wrong with preachers honorably seeking the acceptance and approval of others in order to draw them to Christ (1 Cor. 9:19-23). But men who are more concerned with acceptance by brethren for selfish reasons than with the salvation of their souls will do as those Paul spoke out against here: in craftiness handle the word of God deceitfully and corrupt it, thus scratching itching ears (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Paul's appeal here and elsewhere (2 Tim. 1:13; 4:2,5) was for those who proclaimed the good news to set it forth plainly and let that be their "commendation". The best, and only, recommendation preachers should give or seek from brethren comes not from measuring ourselves by ourselves (2 Cor. 10:12) or any other fleshly consideration (2 Cor. 5:16-17), but from our "setting forth the truth plainly".

Brethren's evaluation of evangelists. Paul determined not to use fleshly things in judging people and brethren would do well to follow his example when they evaluate preachers and preaching. However, brethren sometimes are concerned about, impressed by, and base evaluations upon some very fleshly things: a man's style or pulpit technique (the more humor, the better); academic achievements; college and\or paper affiliations; etc. The current practice of  preachers sending, or congregations requiring, résumés (imagine Paul filling one out or Philippi asking for one) which often emphasize information about a preacher that is totally irrelevant to the work of an evangelist as outlined in the New Testament illustrates our point. Evaluating an evangelist on the basis of a standard other than what is outlined in the God's word has no place among people who claim to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where it is silent.

Conclusion

We often admonish those in denominations, and well we should, for not "walking by faith" when they abandon the New Testament in favor of human creeds. But brethren, we've likewise ceased to walk by faith when we fail to remember that it is "by setting forth the truth plainly"--nothing more, nothing less--that "we commend ourselves to every man's conscience" and present ourselves to, or receive others, as evangelists worthy of acceptance and confidence. We would do well to remember that all such evaluations are "in the sight of God."

David Smitherman