2-е Коринфянам 5:11

terror of the Lord--the coming judgment, so full of terrors to unbelievers [ESTIUS]. ELLICOTT and ALFORD, after GROTIUS and BENGEL, translate, "The fear of the Lord" (Co2 7:1; Ecc 12:13; Act 9:31; Rom 3:18; Eph 5:21). persuade--Ministers should use the terrors of the Lord to persuade men, not to rouse their enmity (Jde 1:23). BENGEL, ESTIUS, and ALFORD explain: "Persuade men" (by our whole lives, Co2 5:13), namely, of our integrity as ministers. But this would have been expressed after "persuade," had it been the sense. The connection seems as follows: He had been accused of seeking to please and win men, he therefore says (compare Gal 1:10), "It is as knowing the terror (or fear) of the Lord that we persuade men; but (whether men who hear our preaching recognize our sincerity or not) we are made manifest unto God as acting on such motives (Co2 4:2); and I trust also in your consciences." Those so "manifested" need have no "terror" as to their being "manifested (English Version, 'appear') before the judgment-seat" (Co2 5:10).

The apostle proceeds in showing the reasons why they did not faint under their afflictions, namely, their expectation, desire, and assurance of happiness after death (Co2 5:1-5), and deduces an inference for the comfort of believers in their present state (Co2 5:6-8), and another to quicken them in their duty (Co2 5:9-11). Then he makes an apology for seeming to commend himself, and gives a good reason for his zeal and diligence (Co2 5:12-15), and mentions two things that are necessary in order to our living to Christ, regeneration and reconciliation (Co2 5:16 to the end).

5:11–7:4 Paul now explains the main theme of his message, which is reconciliation—the turning of enemies into friends and the restoration of relationships. Paul’s thinking is rooted in what God has done through Christ to reconcile sinners to himself (5:18-21). This exposition is framed by a defense of his own ministry (5:11-17) and an application of his message to the situation in Corinth (6:1–7:4). 5:11 One motive for Paul’s ministry is fearful responsibility to the Lord—not a cringing dread, but a healthy reverence (see Prov 1:7).