John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 5:11

"Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences." — 2 Corinthians 5:11 (ASV)

Knowing therefore. He now returns to speak of himself, or he again applies the general doctrine to himself personally. “I am not ignorant,” he says, “nor devoid of the fear of God, which should reign in the hearts of all the pious.” To know the terror of the Lord, then, is to be influenced by this consideration—that an account must one day be given before the judgment seat of Christ. For the person who seriously considers this must necessarily be touched with fear and shake off all negligence.

He declares, therefore, that he carries out his apostleship faithfully and with a pure conscience (2 Timothy 1:3), as one who walks in the fear of the Lord (Acts 9:31), thinking of the account he must give. However, since his enemies might object, “You praise yourself, it is true, in grand terms, but who sees what you claim?” he says in response to this that he indeed carries out the work of a teacher in the sight of men, but it is known to God with what sincerity of mind he acts. “As my mouth speaks to men, so does my heart to God.”

And I trust This is a kind of correction of what he had said, for he now boasts that he has not merely God as the witness of his integrity, but also the Corinthians themselves, to whom he had given proof of himself. Two things, therefore, are to be observed here:

1. that it is not enough that an individual conducts himself honorably and diligently among men, if his heart is not right in the sight of God (Acts 8:21);
2. that boasting is vain where evidence of the reality itself is lacking.

For none are more bold in claiming everything for themselves than those who have nothing. Therefore, let the person who wants to be believed present such works as may confirm his statements. To be made manifest in their consciences is more than to be known by proofs, for conscience reaches further than carnal judgment.