2 Corinthians 5:12 (ASV)

Passage

We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but [speak] as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

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 5:12 We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but [speak] as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.

2 Corinthians 5:13 For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "again", "commending", "ourselves", "speak", "giving", "occasion", "glorying", and "behalf". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "again" and "commending", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord..." into verse 13's "For whether we are beside ourselves it...", so "again" and "commending" belong inside that flow. In 2 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "again" and "commending" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.