2 Corinthians 1:12

“For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, etc..] This rejoicing or glorying of the apostle's in the testimony of their consciences, to the goodness of their hearts, actions, conduct, and behaviour, was not before God, and in his sight, but before men, who were ready to accuse their good conversation in Christ: nor are these words to be considered as they generally are by interpreters, as if it was the testimony of a good conscience, which was the ground of their faith and confidence, that God would deliver them, and was an helping cause, together with the prayers of the saints, of their present deliverance. They refer to the charge exhibited against the apostle, that he had…”

“For--reason why he may confidently look for their prayers for him. our rejoicing--Greek, "our glorying." Not that he glories in the testimony of his conscience, as something to boast of; nay, this testimony is itself the thing in which his glorying consists. in simplicity--Most of the oldest manuscripts read, "in holiness." English Version reading is perhaps a gloss from Eph 6:5 [ALFORD]. Some of the oldest manuscripts and versions, however, support it. godly sincerity--literally, "sincerity of God"; that is, sincerity as in the presence of God (Co1 5:8). We glory in this in spite of all our adversities. Sincerity in Greek implies the non-admixture of any foreign element. He had no sinister…”

“For our rejoicing is this - The source or cause of our rejoicing. “I have a just cause of rejoicing, and it is, that I have endeavored to live a life of simplicity and godly sincerity, and have not been actuated by the principles of worldly wisdom.” The connection here is not very obvious, and it is not quite easy to trace it. Most expositors, as Doddridge, Locke, Macknight, Bloomfield, etc., suppose that he mentions the purity of his life as a reason why he had a right to expect their prayers, as he had requested in 2 Corinthians 1:11. They would not doubt, it is supposed, that his life had been characterized by great simplicity and sincerity, and would feel, therefore, a deep interest in…”

“For I am the more emboldened to look for this, because I am conscious of my integrity; seeing this is our rejoicing - Even in the deepest adversity. The testimony of our conscience - Whatever others think of us. That in simplicity - Having one end in view, aiming singly at the glory of God. And godly sincerity - Without any tincture of guile, dissimulation, or disguise. Not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God - Not by natural, but divine, wisdom. We have had our conversation in the world - In the whole world; in every circumstance. 2 Corinthians 1:14”

“1:12-14 Paul’s travel plans and his unfulfilled promise of a visit to Corinth were criticized; he was charged with being fickle like persons of the world “who say ‘Yes’ when they really mean ‘No’” (1:17). Before responding to that charge, he clarifies his motives in his ministry and in his letters. 1:12 holiness: Some manuscripts read honesty. The difference is only two letters in Greek (hagiotēti, “holiness”; haplotēti, “honesty”).”

“our rejoicing: Job 13:15, Job 23:10-12, Job 27:5, Job 27:6, 31:1-40; Psa 7:3-5, Psa 44:17-21; Isa 38:3; Act 24:16; Rom 9:1; Co1 4:4; Gal 6:4; Ti1 1:5, Ti1 1:19, Ti1 1:20; Heb 13:18; Pe1 3:16, Pe1 3:21; Jo1 3:19-22 simplicity: Co2 11:3; Rom 16:18, Rom 16:19 godly: Co2 2:17, Co2 8:8; Jos 24:14; Co1 5:8; Eph 6:14; Phi 1:10; Tit 2:7 not: Co2 1:17, Co2 4:2, Co2 10:2-4, Co2 12:15-19; Co1 2:4, Co1 2:5, Co1 2:13, Co1 15:10; Jam 3:13-18, Jam 4:6 we have: That is, "We have conducted ourselves;" for αναστρεφω \[Strong's G390\] in Greek, and conversatio in Latin, are used to denote the whole of a man's conduct, the tenor and practice of his life. 2 Corinthians 1:13”