2 Corinthians 5 11

2 Corinthians 5:11 kjv

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

2 Corinthians 5:11 nkjv

Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

2 Corinthians 5:11 niv

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

2 Corinthians 5:11 esv

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

2 Corinthians 5:11 nlt

Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.

2 Corinthians 5 verses

2 Corinthians 5 11 Meaning

Motivated by a profound, reverential awe of God and the ultimate accountability at the judgment seat of Christ, Paul and his co-workers earnestly seek to persuade people of the truth of the Gospel. While their sincerity and integrity might be questioned by some, their true character, motives, and actions are fully known and transparent before God. Paul also expresses a confident hope that this same spiritual and moral integrity is equally evident and recognized by the discerning conscience of the Corinthian believers. This verse encapsulates Paul's blend of eschatological urgency, evangelistic zeal, and personal vindication in the face of scrutiny.

2 Corinthians 5 11 Context

This verse is situated immediately after Paul's declaration in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." The preceding verses (2 Cor 5:1-9) discuss the certainty of the believer's future glorious, imperishable body and the earnest longing for it, preferring to be "at home with the Lord." Paul grounds his zealous ministry and life in the future reality of divine accountability. Historically, Paul faced severe challenges to his apostleship and character from various factions within the Corinthian church, who questioned his motives, methods, and integrity. This context of defending his legitimate ministry against accusers is crucial to understanding why Paul emphasizes both his appeal to others and his open character before God and the Corinthians' consciences.

2 Corinthians 5 11 Word analysis

• Therefore (Οὖν - Oun): A strong connective, signaling a logical consequence or conclusion drawn from the preceding statements. It links Paul's fervent persuasive activity directly to the truth of the imminent "judgment seat of Christ" (2 Cor 5:10).
• knowing (εἰδότες - eidotes): A perfect participle, indicating a settled, complete, and abiding knowledge. It's not a superficial understanding but a deep-seated conviction that profoundly shapes Paul's actions.
• the fear (τὸν φόβον - ton phobon): In this context, phobos signifies more than mere dread; it conveys a profound, reverential awe, respect, and serious regard for God. It implies an understanding of His holiness, justice, and the ultimate accountability for one's life and ministry, especially concerning the bema (judgment seat) of Christ.
• of the Lord (τοῦ Κυρίου - tou Kyriou): Identifies the object of this reverential fear as Jesus Christ, who, as specified in 2 Corinthians 5:10, will preside over the judgment seat. This attributes divine authority to Christ.
• we persuade (ἀνθρώπους πείθομεν - anthrōpous peithomen): Literally "we persuade people." Peitho means "to convince, appeal to, influence." It indicates an ongoing, active effort through reasoned argument, truthful testimony, and gospel proclamation to bring others to faith and repentance. This is distinct from coercing or manipulating.
• others (ἀνθρώπους - anthrōpous, implicitly "people" or "men"): The subjects of their persuasive ministry. This refers to those outside the faith whom they seek to evangelize, and possibly even those within the Corinthian church who were doubting Paul's authenticity.
• but (δὲ - de): Introduces a contrast or a transition of thought. While they persuade others, there's another crucial dimension: their own integrity before God.
• what we are (Τί ἐσμεν - Ti esmen): This phrase probes beyond superficial appearances or external actions. It refers to Paul's inner character, his true motives, sincerity, and underlying intentions as an apostle. It asks, "What kind of people are we truly?"
• is known (πεφανερώμεθα - pephanerōmetha): A perfect passive indicative verb, meaning "we have been made manifest," "we have been revealed." The perfect tense indicates a completed action with lasting results: their true state is not only known, but has always been, and remains, completely laid bare before God.
• to God (τῷ Θεῷ - tō Theō): The ultimate audience and Judge, whose knowledge of their inner being is complete, infallible, and unwavering. This affirms God's omniscience regarding their deepest selves.
• and I hope (ἐλπίζω δὲ - elpidzō de): Expresses confident expectation rather than a mere wish. Paul fully expects and desires that what is manifest to God should also be evident to the Corinthians' internal moral perception.
• it is known (πεφανερῶσθαι - pephanerōsthai): A perfect passive infinitive, continuing the idea of being manifest or revealed. Its infinitive form suggests it is the object of Paul's hope.
• also (καὶ - kai): Reinforces the parallel: known to God AND known to the Corinthians.
• to your conscience (πρὸς τὰς συνειδήσεις ὑμῶν - pros tas syneidēseis hymōn): Paul's appeal to the internal moral witness of the Corinthians. Syneidēsis refers to the faculty by which one discerns right and wrong, judging one's own thoughts and actions. Paul believes their conscience, if honest, will confirm his integrity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord": This phrase encapsulates Paul's ultimate motivation. His entire ministry, preaching, and conduct are profoundly shaped by a deep, sober awareness of God's holy character, the coming judgment, and the need to give an account. It's not a terrifying dread that paralyzes, but a reverent awe that propels urgent and sincere action.
• "we persuade others": This declares Paul's mission and method. It is a persistent, earnest, and rational effort to bring people to repentance and faith through the Gospel message. This highlights the apostolic calling and the church's evangelistic mandate.
• "but what we are is known to God": This pivots to Paul's defense of his personal integrity. Despite accusations from detractors, his innermost self, his motives, and his character are fully transparent and judged by God. This affirms divine omniscience and serves as a powerful validation of his ministry. Paul relies on God's verdict.
• "and I hope it is known also to your conscience": This is Paul's appeal to his readers. Having declared God's knowledge, he trusts that the Corinthians, by honestly assessing his ministry and conduct, will internally affirm his sincerity. He appeals to their own moral discernment to recognize his authentic devotion to Christ and to them.

2 Corinthians 5 11 Bonus section

The appeal to "conscience" (συνείδησις - syneidēsis) here is particularly significant in Greco-Roman culture, where an individual's self-awareness of one's deeds was a potent moral concept. Paul utilizes this common understanding, suggesting that the Corinthians, if truly unbiased, possess the inner capacity to perceive his honest intentions. This not only serves as a rhetorical strategy against his critics but also highlights Paul's emphasis on subjective moral discernment alongside objective truth. Furthermore, Paul's willingness to lay bare "what we are" (τὶ ἐσμὲν - ti esmen) before both God and the Corinthians' conscience underscores the principle of ministerial transparency and authenticity, contrasting sharply with those who might seek to commend themselves or operate through hidden motives (compare with 2 Cor 4:2, 2 Cor 10:18). It challenges believers to cultivate a lifestyle that, when scrutinized, aligns with their stated faith, offering an ongoing witness to the divine truth that empowers them.

2 Corinthians 5 11 Commentary

2 Corinthians 5:11 powerfully articulates the intertwined motivations of Paul's apostleship: eschatological awareness, evangelistic urgency, and personal integrity. Paul is driven not by personal gain or popularity, but by a profound understanding of accountability before Christ's judgment seat, as introduced in the preceding verse. This "fear of the Lord" is a reverent awe that compels him to wholeheartedly persuade others toward salvation. His method is truthful and convincing, presenting the Gospel with sincere passion. Critically, in the face of ongoing challenges to his character from the Corinthian church, Paul asserts that his true self – his motives, character, and mission – are not hidden. They are "known to God," fully manifest and approved by the ultimate authority. He then expresses a confident expectation that this divine validation should resonate within the Corinthians' own "conscience," implying they possess the inner moral capacity to recognize his authenticity if they judge impartially. The verse serves as both a declaration of his genuine gospel passion and a plea for vindication, linking heavenly realities to earthly ministry and integrity. For practical usage, this verse calls believers to examine their own motives for service (do we serve out of reverence for God's coming judgment?), to evangelize with integrity, and to live with transparency, knowing that our true character is manifest to God and should, as far as possible, be evident to those around us.