2 Corinthians 8:21

21 providemus enim bona non solum coram Deo sed etiam coram hominibus

2 Corinthians 8:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 8:21

Providing for honest things
Or premeditating, forecasting, or considering before hand in the mind, things that are good, that are of good report among men, as well as accounted good by God; for it becomes professors of religion, and especially ministers of the Gospel, to be careful not only to exercise a good conscience towards God; but so to behave, that they may obtain and preserve the good opinion of men; for when they have once lost their credit and reputation among men, their ministry becomes in a great, measure useless; wherefore the apostle adds,

not only in the sight of the Lord:
the same Lord as before, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is a diligent searcher of the hearts, and discerner of the thoughts, and observer of the ways and actions of all his people;

but also in the sight of men;
not that the apostle affected a mere outside show, popular applause, and the praise of men; but was concerned lest any weak persons, by their conduct, should be stumbled and fall, the edification of any should be hindered, and their ministry become unprofitable.

2 Corinthians 8:21 In-Context

19 non solum autem sed et ordinatus ab ecclesiis comes peregrinationis nostrae in hac gratia quae ministratur a nobis ad Domini gloriam et destinatam voluntatem nostram

20 devitantes hoc ne quis nos vituperet in hac plenitudine quae ministratur a nobis

21 providemus enim bona non solum coram Deo sed etiam coram hominibus

22 misimus autem cum illis et fratrem nostrum quem probavimus in multis saepe sollicitum esse nunc autem multo sollicitiorem confidentia multa in vos

23 sive pro Tito qui est socius meus et in vos adiutor sive fratres nostri apostoli ecclesiarum gloriae Christi