It Starts Small

Paul starts the next section of this letter by encouraging the Corinthians and us to act with sincerity and simplicity.

¹² Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace. ¹³ For we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely— ¹⁴ just as you have partially understood us—that we are your reason for pride, just as you also are ours in the day of our Lord Jesus.

2 Corinthians 2:12-14

Walk with a clear conscience.

---

God’s Word about a clear Conscience:

¹⁶ I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men.

Acts 24:16

²³ “‘This is what the Lord says:

The wise person should not boast in his wisdom;
the strong should not boast in his strength;
the wealthy should not boast in his wealth.

Jeremiah 9:23

³¹ So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

---

For our boast is this

In this passage Paul strongly defends himself and his actions. The word he uses is “boast.” This is almost always a negative word. It generally conveys pride. People normally boast when they seek praise from others and want to make themselves look good. We learned about boasting in out study of 1 Corinthians.

Paul did want to make himself look good. He defended himself. This appears quite different from the model we see in Jesus. Jesus was meek. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter and “did not open His mouth.” He was spit on and mocked and beaten and did not mount a personal defense.

So what gives? Why the difference?

The answer is found in the motivation. Jesus did not defend Himself because of His love for us. He had a mission. He was going to sacrifice His life for our sins. Therefore He allowed Himself to be killed, not because He was guilty, but because of love.

Much of 2 Corinthians is a personal letter from Paul in which he defends himself. Paul’s motivation for mounting this aggressive defense is love for the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:11). False teachers had come in and attacked Paul’s character and apostleship (2 Corinthians 11:13). But more was at stake than Paul’s reputation. Attacking Paul, their spiritual mentor, was the first step in an all-out attack against the gospel itself. If they could cause the Corinthians to reject Paul then the next step was to reject the message Paul preached.

Therefore Paul defended himself. He did so not out of a prideful desire to win their fawning adulation. But he defended himself for their good. By proving himself to be credible, he could show that his message was credible. He demonstrated his loving actions. Through this, he showed that the loving message of the gospel was genuine. He was exposing the lies of the false teachers one at a time. The goal was to cause the Corinthians to doubt Satan and his messengers. Paul aimed to build trust in God and God’s messengers, which included himself and his team.

IS there a time or situation where you needed to persuade others of your good intentions for their good. What about a time when you boasted for the wrong reasons.

We have all seen cases where it is necessary for people to prove either their credentials or their good intentions. Parents from time to time may have to tell their kids how much they sacrifice for them. This is done for the good of the children. Children should know that their parents love them and sometimes they might be tempted to doubt it. The correct motivation for defending your character to your children is for their own well-being. You want them to trust you, to love you, to listen to you, and to accept discipline. All of this is good for them.

So to might a boat captain or a pilot “boast” about his experience. It can help to calm the fears of the passengers.

In like manner a doctor may ensure a patient he knows what he is doing. The goal is to help calm the patient and also encourage the patient to follow the treatment prescribed. A patient might believe false negative reports about a doctor. This belief could tempt him to refuse the medicine offered by that doctor. This medicine could save his life.

Boasting may at times be necessary. However, you must carefully evaluate your motivation for boasting or defending yourself. Make sure that you are doing it for the good of others and not for your own reputation.

Do all for the glory of God. Whether you defend yourself, or remain silent, make sure you are doing it to please God and edify His people.

The testimony of our conscience –

God gave us consciences as a built in warning system. They let us know internally the dangers of sin. They warn us to change direction. Our consciences are not perfect. They are only as good as the input we receive. They hold us to the highest perceived standard of right and wrong.

Our consciences are not God’s law or the final standard. But they are the way on which our souls reflect on themselves. Consciences function more like a skylight than a lamp. Without a light of their own they shine light from other sources onto our thoughts and actions.

Believers should guard their consciences by feeding them God’s law found in Scripture. Our consciences can reflect God’s standards when we have the right input. Then we need to be sensitive to how they lead us. When we give them the right nourishment, our consciences can guide us. They can help us to consider more deeply our own motivations.

In this passage, Paul uses his own conscience. It is purified by Scripture and God’s law. He evaluates his behavior and the motivations guiding that behavior toward the Corinthians.

How do we apply what Paul is saying?

First, feed, shape, and mold your conscience so that it accurately reflects Scripture. Second, evaluate your thoughts and motivations. Third, be sensitive to your conscience. If you violate your own conscience, it is sin.

Paul’s conscience exonerated him of guilt

False teachers had evidently been attacking Paul and his team. But Paul appealed to his conscience. His conscience was properly fed with Scripture and enlightened by the Spirit. And it exonerated him completely. Paul could say with a good conscience that he acted with godly sincerity toward them.

This points to the fact that it is very difficult to know others’ hearts. We can largely know our own heart and motivations, though God is the final judge. However, we often cannot accurately judge the secret thoughts and intentions of others.

This is important and has a two-fold application.

Do not be quick to judge others’ motivations. For man see’s the outside, but God sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). These people falsely assigned wrong motivations to Paul’s actions. It was malicious. It can be very hurtful when we assign wrong motivations to people. Can you think of any examples in the Bible where people did this? One example is David’s oldest brother Eliab.

²⁸ David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and he became angry with him. “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!”

1 Samuel 17:28

Eliab accuses David of wicked intentions. He says, “I know how conceited you are.” In fact, Eliab did not know that. David came because his father told him to take food to his brothers.

We should be careful not to act in like manner as it can be very hurtful.

Do not let false accusations against you cause you guilt. When people accuse you it is wise to listen and evaluate your own heart. Search carefully for any sin. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you. If, after doing these things, you have a clear conscience, do not worry. You have acted in obedience to God’s Word and out of the right motivation. Do not feel guilty just because others view you wrongly. And do not live for pleasing others or receiving affirmation. God is the one on the throne who will judge and you will answer to Him alone.

Paul had been straightforward with them

“We are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand.”

Paul had communicated clearly and straightforwardly. He said what he meant and meant what he said. There was no secret agenda or duplicity.

On the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you –

One day all doubt and suspicion would be completely wiped away. They would know clearly that Paul had only acted for their welfare. Paul looked forward to that day when there would be nothing between them in their relationship.

Reflective Questions:

• Why does Paul use the word “boast” here which normally has a negative connotation?
• What verses can you think of that speak about boasting?
• What is the main point of this passage?
• What may have prompted Paul to defend his actions and motivations?
• What can we learn from this about when it may appropriate to defend ourselves?
• In what cases would it be right to persuade others of your good intentions?
• What is the difference between this beneficial explanation and pride?
• How can we reconcile Paul’s actions here with Jesus’ model of being silent and meek in the face of insults?
• When is the “day of the Lord Jesus?” What was Paul looking forward to on that day?

Then Paul goes on to show that he acted with faithfulness and pure motives.

¹⁵ Because of this confidence, I planned to come to you first, so that you could have a second benefit, ¹⁶ and to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and then come to you again from Macedonia and be helped by you on my journey to Judea. ¹⁷ Now when I planned this, was I of two minds? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? ¹⁸ As God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes and no.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you—Silvanus, Timothy, and I—did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.” ²⁰ For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:15-20

I wanted to come to you first so that you may have a second experience of grace

The first experience of grace is when Paul visited Corinth the first time and established the church. The key issue in this chapter seems to be that Paul had told them about his plans to visit again. However, he ultimately did not visit. His opponents jumped on this and used it as a means to attack him. This situation prompted Paul to vigorously defend his motives. He also defends his communication with them to this point.

Paul had expressed a desire to visit them on his way to Macedonia, but it didn’t pan out.

Was I vacillating and saying “yes” and “no”?

Paul continues to defend his motivations. He did plan to visit them. Sincere in this desire, he wasn’t just saying it to pretend that he had affection for them. Paul did not say “yes” but mean “no.” He meant it.

The words we speak are important. Jesus said to “let your yes be yes and your no by no.”

³⁷ But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.

Matthew 5:37

And He also told a parable of two sons.

²⁸ “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’

²⁹ “He answered, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he answered, but he didn’t go. ³¹ Which of the two did his father’s will?”

They said, “The first.”

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.

Matthew 21:28-31

One of these sons told his father that he would go work in the vineyard, but he didn’t go. The son wanted to please the father, but his words did not match his deeds.

¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” ¹⁴ Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.

¹⁵ Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:13-15

In this passage we learn that we should say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

It is not clear whether or not Paul did say “if it is the Lord’s will.” Clearly he followed this principle since he wanted to go and later did not when God led otherwise. Note also that Paul says he “wanted” to visit them. It does not appear that he made this a guarantee.

However, his opponents seized on this and accused him of only pretending to want to visit. Their evil words would have been something like the following: “Paul does not really care about you. He only pretended to want to visit. If he actually wanted to visit, he would have been here. We are here. We care for you. Listen to us, not Paul!”

² Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

How do we apply what Paul is saying here:

Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Do not make rash promises.

Do not agree to take on responsibilities in order to please others.

Do not quickly say “yes” and take on commitments.

Do not quickly sign your name on a contract under pressure.

Slow down. Pray. Seek God’s will. And be sure before you give your word. Your word should be your bond. When you are ready to make a commitment, let it be known. State that according to God’s will, you will do this or that. But once you have made that commitment, be responsible and fulfill it.

Reflective Questions:

• Why did Paul want to visit the Corinthians again?
• What does it mean to have a “second experience of grace?” What was the first?
• Did Paul make the trip to visit as planned?
• What might his opponents in Corinth have said about Paul’s canceled trip?
• What is the meaning of verses 17-18?
• Why does Paul defend his motivations?
• What does Paul mean about “yes and no?”
• Are there any lessons we can from this passage about communication?
• How can you avoid lying when you make plans or commitments?
• Before you agree to something, what should do you first?

At the close of this chapter, Paul reminds us and the Corinthians we are one family in Christ.

²¹ Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. ²² He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

²³ I call on God as a witness, on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth. ²⁴ I do not mean that we lord it over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in your faith.

2 Corinthians 1:21-24

God establishes us with you in Christ

Paul’s care for the Corinthians did not come just out of his own mind or desires. God gave it to him. Paul loved and cared for them because Christ worked in him. Christ’s work was also in them. They were a family, not because Paul had chosen to make them his family, but because God did. This is the unity that they had. God called Paul to serve them. They were on the same team!

Paul, Timothy, and Silvanus (Silas) were saved

Paul and his team had been transformed by Christ. He and the Corinthians were saved the way by Christ. They were anointed by Him, sealed by him, and given the Spirit as a guarantee.

Together with the Corinthians, they were partakers of the divine grace.

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:4-6

They needed to move beyond the nitpicking and conflict. It was time to completely put that behind them. They should realize they are on the same team with the same Lord.

It was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth

Here Paul finally gives the reason why he changed his mind and decided not to go in Corinth. It was to “spare them.” Probably this meant that Paul wanted to give them adequate time to repent of sin before a confrontation. Another visit to them would have been “painful” (2:1), so he instead communicated back and forth via letters.

Sometimes written form of communication can be better than spoken form.

When might writing a letter be better than talking face to face?

Some advantages of writing letter include:

• Time to think carefully exactly what needs to be said and how to word it.
• Time for both sides to step back and cool off before responding.
• Helps take some emotion out of it.
• You can erase and re-write parts of letters, but you cannot take spoken words back again.
• Allows you to make your complete case without interruption.
• It can show that you are serious and “mean business” since it is more formal.

We do not always communicate via letter. However, there are times when it is useful. Sometimes it is even superior to face-to-face communication. It can be most useful when one party does not listen. Instead, they interrupt and argue. These behaviors make it very difficult to have a conversation. If you have something important to say, and the other person does not give you the time, write a letter.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy

Paul describes his philosophy as a disciple maker. It is the same philosophy taught by Jesus.

²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:28

Jesus told His disciples not to “lord it over” others like the Gentiles, but to be a servant. He Himself came “not be to be served but to serve.”

Leaders in the church should not rule like kings. Instead they are to serve. Leading by serving is the model established by Jesus. And it inspires people to follow. The church would greatly benefit if more Christian leaders followed this verse. They should decide to work with their congregations. They should stop ruling over them. Every person in the church is on the team. Every person has a spiritual gift. Every person has a role. Some are feet, some are eyes, and some are brains. Leaders should seek to inspire their congregations to join in with them in building God’s kingdom. It is a group effort! And when leaders humbly serve this way (as Paul did) it makes it much easier to follow them.

---

God’s Word about Serving Others:

¹¹ Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11

¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Romans 12:16

¹⁹ So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.

Romans 14:19

¹² For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.

Romans 12:12

Reflective Questions:

• What did Paul have in common with the Corinthians?
• How is this unity in Christ relevant to Paul’s explanations about why he didn’t visit them?
• Why did Paul not end up going to Corinth?
• In what way would it “spare them” for him not to visit?
• What can you learn from verse 24 about discipleship? About leadership?

---

© Kimberlee Smith 2026 http://www.itstartssmall.com All rights reserved.