How we conduct ourselves with our friends is a great way to tell what is really in our hearts. One can see our love, our generosity, whether or not we are honest in all things, basically what we are really “made of.”
Paul is reminding the people in the church at
Notice also that Paul tells them he does not put on a “different face” for the rest of the world. He conducts himself among strangers with that same purity and godliness that he does with his fellow believers.
It is important that we be of one mind, the mind of Christ, in our dealings with all peoples so that no cry of “hypocrite” can be heard regarding our conduct.
For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness* and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. 2 Corinthians 1:12 (NASB)
*NOTE:
KJV - uses simplicity (haplotēs) and godly sincerity, where haplotes means singleness of mind or sincerity without thought of self.
NASB – uses holiness (hagiotēs) and godly sincerity, where hagiotes means holiness or sanctity.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary points out that these two words could have easily been confused by the scribe copying a manuscript. I point that out to say this, God’s Word is reliable even when a different word is chosen by the scribe. The underlying meaning of the passage is that Paul has spoken to the church at
