Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 1:14

"as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus." — 2 Corinthians 1:14 (ASV)

Before defending himself against the specific charges of vacillation and domineering leveled against him by his opponents (1:15–2:4), Paul deals with two more general accusations: that he had acted shamelessly and insincerely in his relations with the Corinthians (cf. v.12a), and that in his letters he had shown worldly shrewdness and had been evasive by writing one thing but meaning another (cf. vv.12b–13a).

These baseless charges Paul answers in the only way possible for him—by appealing to the testimony of his own conscience and the Corinthians’ knowledge of his conduct. He thus claims that in both church and world his conduct had been characterized by God-given purity of intention and openness and had been governed by “God’s grace” (v.12; GK 5921). Then he asserts that in none of his correspondence—the Corinthians had already received at least three letters from him—did his meaning become apparent only by “reading between the lines.” Rather, his meaning lay on the surface and could be understood simply by reading (v.13a). Paul concludes by reminding his converts at Corinth that they had already begun to appreciate his motives and intentions, especially through the recent visit of Titus . He expresses the hope that they would reach the full assurance that he could give them as much cause for pride now (cf. 5:12) as they would give him pride “in the day of the Lord Jesus” (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:31; Php 4:1: 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20).