Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Corinthians 4:2

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

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.

It is no part of the business of Christ's ministers to modify the truth which he has entrusted to them, or to put new meanings into it which God never meant, draining away the very life-blood of the gospel, and leaving it dead and useless.

But it is both our duty and our privilege to state it just as we find it, and to proclaim it in as plain language as possible so that everybody may understand what the teaching of God really is.

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.

Far be it from the teacher of truth ever to use words in a non-natural sense, or to dissemble or equivocate, saying to the ear what he does not mean in the sense in which the hearer understands it. Far be it from us to mix with the Word of God anything of our own, as vintners mix various kinds of wine, for that is the meaning of the word the apostle uses here. Let none of us ever handle the Word of God deceitfully. There is no deceit in it; it is all pure, unmixed truth. An honest mind is needed for understanding it, and then a truthful tongue for telling it to others.

If we do preach undiluted, unadulterated truth, we must not expect that the natural heart of man will commend our honesty. We are to commend ourselves to every man's conscience, not by cutting and trimming the Word to make it palatable to our hearers, leaving one truth out to please this man, and dwelling too long on another truth to please some other hearer, but by bringing out the whole teaching of the Scripture in clear truthfulness that will command the approval of the conscience, even of those who may not accept the truth that we proclaim.

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.

Sadly, there have been many preachers who have handled the Word of God in the manner described by the apostle. They have cut and trimmed the truth in order to please their generation; they have kept back this, or have made unduly prominent that, instead of giving all the truth of God its proper and proportionate prominence in their ministry. But such men have not, after all, won the respect of their hearers.

There is an old story told about King John of England. When he was closely pressed by the barons, he wrote to the Emperor of Morocco. He offered to become a Muslim and take an oath of allegiance to him if the Emperor would send an army to help him. It is said that from then on, the Emperor of Morocco abhorred and detested the very name of John, declaring that John must be an abominable miscreant to be willing to change his religion for the sake of gain.

Ah, my brothers and sisters, we never gain any respect, even from the world, by seeking it in this way. Be thoroughly honest, especially you who are in the Christian ministry; be outspoken, blunt, and plain; and then, even if men's prejudices condemn you, their consciences will commend you for speaking what you believe to be the truth.