2 Corinthians 5:12 (YLT)

Passage

for not again ourselves do we recommend to you, but we are giving occasion to you of glorifying in our behalf, that ye may have <FI>something<Fi> in reference to those glorifying in face and not in heart;

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 5:10 for all of us it behoveth to be manifested before the tribunal of the Christ, that each one may receive the things <FI>done<Fi> through the body, in reference to the things that he did, whether good or evil;

2 Corinthians 5:11 having known, therefore, the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, and to God we are manifested, and I hope also in your consciences to have been manifested;

2 Corinthians 5:12 for not again ourselves do we recommend to you, but we are giving occasion to you of glorifying in our behalf, that ye may have <FI>something<Fi> in reference to those glorifying in face and not in heart;

2 Corinthians 5:13 for whether we were beside ourselves, <FI>it was<Fi> to God; whether we be of sound mind--<FI> it is<Fi> to you,

2 Corinthians 5:14 for the love of the Christ doth constrain us, having judged thus: that if one for all died, then the whole died,

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "having known therefore the fear of the..." into verse 13's "for whether we were beside ourselves FI...", so "again" and "ourselves" 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 "ourselves" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.