<p>5:12 <i>We are not commending ourselves to you again- </i>Perhaps Paul was quoting back to them what he knew some said about him: 'Here he goes again, commending himself'. The immediate reference would be to Paul's claim that he is transparent, because he stands now as before the judgment seat of Christ, revealed to them as he would be then (see previous commentary on this chapter). He has just said that they know this to be true in their consciences (:11). And he has used the same argument in 3:1 and 4:2; his commendation is in fact within their consciences (&quot;commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God&quot;, 4:2). <br /><i><br />But giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart- </i>Paul is setting the scene for his forthcoming self-commendation in human terms which he will make in chapter 6- &quot;In all things approving s.w. &quot;commending&quot; ourselves as the ministers of God&quot; in all his sufferings (2 Cor. 6:4). He is speaking in human terms- for he is clear that it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends (2 Cor. 10:18). This commendation of the Lord was in their consciences (:11)- by the work of the Spirit in their hearts, if they were indeed open to it. He notes that it is the false teachers, who humanly speaking were his competitors, who commended themselves (2 Cor. 10:12). But he will go on to make a self-commendation so that they can still engage with those false teachers &quot;who boast about outward appearance&quot; on their own terms. The boat should not be about outward things, but about &quot;what is in the heart&quot;. And what was that? He has just said that they ought to have the Spirit in their hearts (:5), and it was that Spirit which ought to have worked within them so that the commendation of Paul was within their hearts, in their consciences (see on :11). Paul could of course have refused to engage with these people on their own terms. But he does, in the same way as some believers find it appropriate to engage with the arguments of scientific atheists in the terms of science. Even though the higher arguments for God's existence are beyond the scientific paradigm. &quot;I speak in human terms&quot; is a phrase Paul several times uses. He sought by all means to persuade men.</p><p>Like the Lord, Paul&rsquo;s transparency was what connected him with people. He says that he needs no letter of recommendation to them, because he is written on their hearts; &ldquo;by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man&rsquo;s conscience in the sight of God&hellip; we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences&rdquo; (2 Cor. 3:3; 4:2; 5:11 AV). There were those in Corinth who thought in terms of appearances rather than the heart; those who demanded letters of recommendation before accepting Paul (2 Cor. 5:12); but Paul&rsquo;s response is that because he is transparent to God, it is inevitable that he is transparent before them his brethren. They knew in their hearts / consciences, no matter how they sought to deny it, that he was sincere. And this was why Paul could be so open with the critical Corinthians about his personal life. &ldquo;Be ye also enlarged&rdquo; invites us to be like him in this. To be asked to have the openness of Paul is a challenge indeed. Even in our Christian experience, those brethren and sisters who have the most influence on others are those who artlessly radiate their own spirit, whose struggle with sin, devotion and example is unconcealable and uncontrived.&nbsp;</p>