SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:5
Porque no nos predicamos a nosotros mismos, sino a Cristo Jess, el Seor; y nosotros, vuestros siervos por Jess.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 4:5
Verse 5. For we preach not ourselves] We neither proclaim our own wisdom nor power; we have nothing but what we have received; we do not wish to establish our own authority, nor to procure our own emolument. But Christ Jesus the Lord] We proclaim the author of this glorious Gospel as CHRIST, o cristov, the same as jymh hammashiach, the MESSIAH, the Anointed One; him of whom the prophets wrote; and who is the expectation, as he is the glory, of Israel, We proclaim him as JESUS [why Yehoshua, the saviour and Deliverer, who saves men from their sins. See Matt. i. 21. And we proclaim Jesus of Nazareth to be the long-expected Messiah; and that there will be none other. And farther we proclaim this Jesus the Messiah to be the LORD, o kuriov, the great Ruler who has all power in heaven and earth; who made and governs the world; and who can save to the uttermost all that come to God through him. Such was the Redeemer preached by St. Paul.
And ourselves your servants] Labouring as fervently and as faithfully for your eternal interests as your most trusty slaves can do for your secular welfare. And we do this for Christ's sake; for although we by our labour show ourselves to be your servants, yea, your slaves, doulouv, yet it is a voluntary service; and we are neither employed by you nor receive our wages from you. We belong to Jesus; and are your servants on his account, and by his order.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. For we preach not ourselves , etc..] These words contain a reason why the apostles behaved themselves in the manner described, ( Corinthians 4:2) and serve to explain in what sense this inspired writer is to be understood, when he calls the Gospel our Gospel, ( 2 Corinthians 4:3) and most clearly proves the Gospel to be a glorious one, which he had asserted, ( 2 Corinthians 4:4) since Christ, and not themselves, is the subject of it, for we preach not ourselves. They did not preach any doctrine of their own devising; they did not set up themselves as lords over the faith and consciences of men; nor was their view in preaching to set forth their learning, parts, and eloquence, or to amass wealth and riches to themselves; nor did they assert the purity of human nature, or the power of man to do anything of himself that is spiritually good; or that justification and salvation are by works of righteousness done by men. To do any, or each, or all of these, as did the false apostles, is to preach a man's self: but so did not these faithful dispensers of the word, but they preached Christ Jesus the Lord ; that is, the doctrines respecting the person, office, and grace of Christ; as that he is truly and properly God, the eternal and only begotten Son of God, God and man in one person, the only Mediator between God and man, and the Saviour and Redeemer of lost sinners; that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the true Messiah; and that this Christ is Jesus, a Saviour, the only able and willing one; and that this Jesus Christ is Lord of all, especially of the saints; not only as Creator, but as their head, husband, and Redeemer; that peace and reconciliation, pardon and righteousness, life and salvation, are only by him: and they also declared themselves the servants of the churches, and ourselves your servants . The apostle does not say they were the servants of Christ, though they were, and esteemed it their greatest honour to be so; for he had no need to observe this, since this is included in their preaching him as Lord: nor does he say they were the servants of men, or menpleasers, for then they would not be the servants of Christ; but he asserts them to be the servants of the churches: and which must be understood, not with respect to things temporal, with which they had no concern; but with regard to things spiritual, particularly to the ministration of the word, and administration of ordinances: and this they professed to be, for Jesus' sake ; either for the sake of preaching Christ unto them; or because they were chosen and called by him to this service, and in which they were willing to continue, for the sake of his honour and interest.
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
ου 3756 PRT-N γαρ 1063 CONJ εαυτους 1438 F-3APM κηρυσσομεν 2784 5719 V-PAI-1P αλλα 235 CONJ χριστον 5547 N-ASM ιησουν 2424 N-ASM κυριον 2962 N-ASM εαυτους 1438 F-3APM δε 1161 CONJ δουλους 1401 N-APM υμων 5216 P-2GP δια 1223 PREP ιησουν 2424 N-ASM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:5 {For we preach not ourselves} (ou gar heautous kerussomen). Surely as poor and disgusting a topic as a preacher can find. {But Christ Jesus as Lord} (alla criston iesoun kurion). kurion is predicate accusative in apposition. {As your servants for Jesus' sake} (doulous humwn dia iesoun). Your bond-slave for the sake of Jesus. this is the sufficient reason for any preacher's sacrifice, "for Jesus' sake."
