Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Corinthians 4:5

"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus` sake." — 2 Corinthians 4:5 (ASV)

For we preach not ourselves.—The words, like those about “commending ourselves,” imply a reference to something that had been said. He was charged with being egotistic in his preaching, perhaps with special reference to passages like 1 Corinthians 2:1–4; 1 Corinthians 3:1–10; 1 Corinthians 4:11–13. He indignantly repudiates that charge. Christ Jesus had been all along the subject of his preaching. (Compare to 1 Corinthians 2:2.) So far as he had spoken of himself at all, it had been as a minister and servant for their sake (1 Corinthians 3:22–23; 1 Corinthians 9:19).