John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty , etc..] Or shame; this is a further account of the conduct of the first ministers of the Gospel, and very worthy of our imitation, and in which the apostle strikes at the different manner of behaviour in the false apostles: this may respect both doctrine and practice; they abhorred and rejected everything that was scandalous and reproachful to the Gospel of Christ; in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, they had their conversation in the world; they were open and above board, both in principle and practice; the same men in public, as in private; they used no art to cover their doctrines, or hide their conversations; everything of this kind was detestable to them; whereas the false teachers took a great deal of pains to colour over both their sentiments and their lives; and a shame it was to speak of the things that were done of them in secret, ( Ephesians 5:12). Moreover, they were not walking in craftiness ; they used no sly and artful methods to please men, to gain applause from them, or make merchandise of them; they did not lie in wait to deceive, watching an opportunity to work upon credulous and incautious minds; they did not, by good words and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple; nor put on different forms, or make different appearances, in order to suit themselves to the different tempers and tastes of men, as did the false apostles: not handling the word of God deceitfully . They did not corrupt it with human doctrines, or mix and blend it with philosophy, and vain deceit; they did not wrest the Scriptures to serve any carnal or worldly purpose; nor did they accommodate them to the lusts and passions of men; or conceal any part of truth, or keep back any thing which might be profitable to the churches: but by the manifestation of the truth, commending themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God ; that is, they with all plainness and evidence clearly preached the truth as it is in Jesus, presenting it to, and pressing it upon the consciences of men; where they left it, and to which they could appeal; and all this they did, in the sight and presence of the omniscient God, to whom they knew they must give an account of themselves and their ministry.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The best of men would faint, if they did not receive mercy from God And that mercy which has helped us out, and helped us on, hitherto, we may rely upon to help us even to the end. The apostles had no base an wicked designs, covered with fair and specious pretences. They did no try to make their ministry serve a turn. Sincerity or uprightness wil keep the favourable opinion of wise and good men. Christ by his gospe makes a glorious discovery to the minds of men. But the design of the devil is, to keep men in ignorance; and when he cannot keep the ligh of the gospel of Christ out of the world, he spares no pains to kee men from the gospel, or to set them against it. The rejection of the gospel is here traced to the wilful blindness and wickedness of the human heart. Self was not the matter or the end of the apostles preaching; they preached Christ as Jesus, the Saviour and Deliverer who saves to the uttermost all that come to God through him. Minister are servants to the souls of men; they must avoid becoming servants to the humours or the lusts of men. It is pleasant to behold the sun in the firmament; but it is more pleasant and profitable for the gospel to shine in the heart. As light was the beginning of the first creation so, in the new creation, the light of the Spirit is his first work upo the soul. The treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthe vessels. The ministers of the gospel are subject to the same passion and weaknesses as other men. God could have sent angels to make know the glorious doctrine of the gospel, or could have sent the mos admired sons of men to teach the nations, but he chose humbler, weake vessels, that his power might be more glorified in upholding them, an in the blessed change wrought by their ministry.
Greek Textus Receptus
αλλ 235 CONJ απειπαμεθα 550 5639 V-2AMI-1P τα 3588 T-APN κρυπτα 2927 A-APN της 3588 T-GSF αισχυνης 152 N-GSF μη 3361 PRT-N περιπατουντες 4043 5723 V-PAP-NPM εν 1722 PREP πανουργια 3834 N-DSF μηδε 3366 CONJ δολουντες 1389 5723 V-PAP-NPM τον 3588 T-ASM λογον 3056 N-ASM του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM αλλα 235 CONJ τη 3588 T-DSF φανερωσει 5321 N-DSF της 3588 T-GSF αληθειας 225 N-GSF συνιστωντες 4921 5723 V-PAP-NPM εαυτους 1438 F-3APM προς 4314 PREP πασαν 3956 A-ASF συνειδησιν 4893 N-ASF ανθρωπων 444 N-GPM ενωπιον 1799 ADV του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. Dishonesty (thv aiscunhv). Rev., more correctly, shame. Compare Eph. v. 12.Craftiness (panourgia). See on Luke xx. 23.
Handling deceitfully (dolountev). Only here in the New Testament. Primarily, to ensnare; then to corrupt. Used of adulterating gold, wine, etc. See on which corrupt, ch. ii. 17. This verb has a narrower meaning than the one used there (kaphleuein); for, while that means also to corrupt, it adds the sense for gain's sake. The Vulgate renders both by the same word, adulterantes. Compare Dante:
"Thus did Sabellius, Arias, and those fools Who have been even as swords unto the Scriptures In rendering distorted their straight faces." "Paradiso," xiii., 128-130.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:2 {But we have renounced} (alla apeipameqa). Indirect middle second aorist (timeless aorist) indicative of apeipon (defective verb) with a of first aorist ending, to speak forth, to speak off or away from. Common verb in the active, but rare in middle and only here in N.T. {The hidden things of shame} (ta krupta tes aiscunes). They do attack the minister. His only safety is in instant and courageous defiance to all the powers of darkness. It is a terrible thing to see a preacher caught in the toils of the tempter. {In craftiness} (en panourgiai). Old word from panourgos (pan, ergon), a doer of any deed (good or bad), clever, cunning, deceitful. See on Lu 20:23. {Handling deceitfully} (dolountes). Present active participle of dolow, from dolos, deceit (from delw, to catch with bait), old and common verb, in papyri and inscriptions, to ensnare, to corrupt with error. Only here in N.T. Used of adulterating gold or wine. {To every conscience of men} (pros pasan suneidesin anqrwpwn). Not to whim, foible, prejudice. See #3:1-6 for "commending" (sunistanontes).
