48 II. CORINTHIANS 2, 17.

This some understand to mean the mass or majority of those who preach the gospel. The apostle would thus be made to condemn, as corrupters of the faith, the great body of the min- isters of the apostolic church. This, however, is unnecessary. The many, means the definite many known to the Corinthians as false teachers, to whom in the course of this epistle the apostle so often refers. Which corrupt the word of God. The word used is KaTTT^Xevo), to be a huckster^ and then to act as one. Paul says, We do not act as hucksters in reference to the word of God. The word is frequently used in the Greek writers in a figurative sense, to express the ideas of adul- terating, and of makmg merchandise of any thing for the sake of gain. Both ideas may be united, for both are included in the disclaimer of the apostle. He neither adulterated the word of God, by mixing it with Judaism or false philosophy (i. e. with his own speculations), nor did he use it for any selfish or mercenary j^urpose. JBut as of sincerity. The ((is) as, is not redundant. The meaning is, 'We speak as those who are sincere,' i. e. those whose characteristic is ctXtKptVcia, transpar- ent purity, or integrity ; who can bear being looked through and through; all whose motives will sustain inspection. As of God, not merely sent of God, but godly, influenced by God, and belonging to God, and therefore like him. Our Lord said to the Jews, " He which is of God, heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God," John 8, 47. As in the sight of God, i. e. as in his presence and conscious of his inspection. We speak in Christ ; not of Christ, nor, according to Christ, but in communion with him, as a member of his body and actuated by his Spirit. We have here then Paul's description of a faithful minister, of one who is (tKttvos) sufficient, or qualified for the fearful responsi- bility of being a savour of life or of death. He does not cor- rupt the word of God by any foreign admixtures, nor use it as a means of his own advancement by dispensing it so as to please men ; but he is governed by pure motives, is of God, and speaks as in the presence of God, and as a true Christian man.