Manifestation of the Truth

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:2)

A Few Thoughts:

The manifestation is the bringing to light, making manifest the absolute truth. There is no subjective rendering or interpretation of this truth. This truth is derived from the Greek, “Alethes”, and it simply, “is”. As is anything of God, it is a constant and immutable. Alethes is unaffected by any outside influence, thought or public opinion. Truth affects but cannot be affected.

“Commending ourselves” is an interesting concept. It literally means to place or band together. So, Paul is telling the Corinthians that they have had no part in dishonesty, craftiness, or deceitfulness, but by the evident truth of God have joined themselves to every man’s conscience.

Vine’s has a wonderful and accurate interpretation of the Greek “Syneidesis” transliterated as “conscience”. They define it as the, “faculty by which we apprehend the will of God, as that which is designed to govern our lives” (Vines).

You can see why Paul wanted to make clear that no works of the devil were involved with this. These men of God are bringing the immutable truth of God to the minds and will of every man. This is the last thing the devil would ever want to happen. And what an awesome privilege God has bestowed upon all of His elect. This is “commending ourselves” is what Jesus meant when He left us with the “Great Command”

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

The final stamp of assurance Paul offers the Corinthians is when he said what they do is, “in the sight of God”. This should be an ever-present thought for us all. Yes, we all know that everything is in the sight of God, but events of the moment tend to distract us from this reality. Distraction and taking our eyes off the prize of Jesus. It’s the devil’s best tool in his tool kit.

We are to make manifest the truth. Our responsibility is to, through fellowship and joining of mind and spirit, bring this truth to our fellow man. We don’t just tell or teach, we make it personal. We do this with God as our audience.

Bill Hitchcock