But have renounced the hidden things of
dishonesty
Or "shame"; this is a further account of the conduct of the first
ministers of the Gospel, and very worthy of our imitation, and in
which the apostle strikes at the different manner of behaviour in
the false apostles: this may respect both doctrine and practice;
they abhorred and rejected everything that was scandalous and
reproachful to the Gospel of Christ; in simplicity and godly
sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, they
had their conversation in the world; they were open and above
board, both in principle and practice; the same men in public, as
in private; they used no art to cover their doctrines, or hide
their conversations; everything of this kind was detestable to
them; whereas the false teachers took a great deal of pains to
colour over both their sentiments and their lives; and "a shame
it was to speak of the things that were done of them in secret",
( Ephesians 5:12 ) .
Moreover, they were
not walking in craftiness;
they used no sly and artful methods to please men, to gain
applause from them, or make merchandise of them; they did not lie
in wait to deceive, watching an opportunity to work upon
credulous and incautious minds; they did not, by good words and
fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple; nor put on
different forms, or make different appearances, in order to suit
themselves to the different tempers and tastes of men, as did the
false apostles:
not handling the word of God deceitfully.
They did not corrupt it with human doctrines, or mix and blend it
with philosophy, and vain deceit; they did not wrest the
Scriptures to serve any carnal or worldly purpose; nor did they
accommodate them to the lusts and passions of men; or conceal any
part of truth, or keep back any thing which might be profitable
to the churches:
but by the manifestation of the truth, commending
themselves to
every man's conscience in the sight of God;
that is, they with all plainness and evidence clearly preached
the truth as it is in Jesus, presenting it to, and pressing it
upon the consciences of men; where they left it, and to which
they could appeal; and all this they did, in the sight and
presence of the omniscient God, to whom they knew they must give
an account of themselves and their ministry.