John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 2:17

"For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ." — 2 Corinthians 2:17 (ASV)

For we are not. He now contrasts himself more openly with the false apostles, by way of amplifying and, at the same time, with the view of excluding them from the praise that he had claimed for himself. “It is on good grounds,” he says, “that I speak in honorable terms of my apostleship, for I am not afraid of being convicted of vanity, if proof is demanded.”

But many on false grounds arrogate the same thing to themselves, who will be found to have nothing in common with me. For they adulterate the word of the Lord, which I dispense with the greatest faithfulness and sincerity for the edification of the Church.” I do not think it likely, however, that those who are reproved here preached openly wicked or false doctrines; but I am rather of the opinion that they corrupted the right use of doctrine, either for the sake of gain or ambition, so as to utterly deprive it of energy.

This he terms adulterating. Erasmus prefers to render it—cauponari—huckstering. The Greek word καπηλεύειν, is taken from retailers or tavern-keepers, who are accustomed to adulterate their commodities so that they may fetch a higher price. I do not know whether the word cauponari is used in that sense among the Latins.

It is, indeed, certain from the corresponding clause, that Paul intended to express here—corruption of doctrine—not as if they had revolted from the truth, but because they presented it under disguise, and not in its genuine purity. For the doctrine of God is corrupted in two ways.

It is corrupted in a direct way when it is mixed up with falsehood and lies, so as to be no longer the pure and genuine doctrine of God, but is falsely commended under that title.

It is corrupted indirectly when, although retaining its purity, it is turned here and there to please men and is disfigured by unseemly disguises, by seeking favor.

Thus, some will be found in whose doctrine no impiety will be detected, but because they seek the applause of the world by displaying their acuteness and eloquence, or are ambitious for some position, or gape for filthy lucre (1 Timothy 3:8), or desire to advance themselves by some means or other, they nevertheless corrupt the doctrine itself by wrongfully abusing it or making it subservient to their depraved inclinations.

I am, therefore, inclined to retain the word adulterate, as it expresses better what ordinarily happens in the case of all who play with the sacred word of God, as with a ball, and transform it according to their own convenience. For they must necessarily degenerate from the truth and preach a sort of artificial and spurious Gospel.

But as of sincerity. The word as here is superfluous, as in many other places. In contrast with the corruption that he had mentioned, he makes use, first of all, of the term sincerity, which may be taken as referring to the manner of preaching, as well as to the disposition of the mind.

I rather approve of the latter. Secondly, he places in contrast with it a faithful and conscientious dispensation of it, inasmuch as he faithfully delivers to the Church from hand to hand, as they say, the Gospel which God had committed to him and had given him in charge. Thirdly, he adds to this a regard to the Divine presence.

For whoever has the three following things is in no danger of forming the purpose of corrupting the word of God:

1. That we are motivated by a true zeal for God.
2. That we bear in mind that it is His business we are conducting, and present nothing but what has come from Him.
3. That we consider that He is the witness and spectator of everything we do, and thus learn to refer everything to His judgment.

In Christ means according to Christ. For the rendering of Erasmus, By Christ, is foreign to Paul’s intention.