II Corinthians 4:5
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For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
For--Their blindness is not our fault, as if we had self-seeking aims in our preaching. preach . . . Christ . . . the Lord--rather, "Christ as Lord," and ourselves as your servants, &c. "Lord," or "Master," is the correlative term to "servants."
Open source ↗In this chapter we have an account, I. Of the constancy of the apostle and his fellow-labourers in their work. Their constancy in declared (Co2 4:1), their sincerity is vouched (Co2 4:2), an objection is obviated (Co2 4:3, Co2 4:4), and their integrity proved (Co2 4:5-7). II. Of their courage and patience under their sufferings. Where see what their sufferings were, together with their allays (Co2 4:8-12), and what it was that kept them from sinking and fainting under them (Co2 4:13 to the end).
Open source ↗4:5 We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord: See also Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 12:3; Col 2:6.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood.
But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.