Godly sincerity
We have lived our manner of life in the world, second, in godly sincerity. The difference between simplicity and sincerity seems to be chiefly this. Simplicity regards the intention itself. Sincerity regards the carrying out of it. And this sincerity relates not merely to our words, but to our whole manner of life, as described above. It is not to be understood here in that narrow sense in which Saint Paul himself sometimes uses it, for speaking the truth, or for abstaining from guile, from craft and disguise. It is used in a wider meaning, as actually hitting the mark which we aim at by simplicity.
Accordingly, it implies in this place that we do in fact speak and do all to the glory of God. All our words are not only aimed at this, but actually serve it. All our actions flow on in an even stream, uniformly serving this great end. And in our whole lives we are moving straight toward God, and that continually, walking steadily on in the highway of holiness, in the paths of justice, mercy, and truth.
The apostle calls this sincerity godly sincerity, or the sincerity of God, to keep us from mistaking it or confusing it with the sincerity of the heathens. For they also had a kind of sincerity among them, for which they professed no small reverence. He likewise uses the phrase to mark the object and the end of this, as of every Christian virtue, since whatever does not ultimately tend to God sinks among the beggarly elements of the world. By calling it the sincerity of God, he also points out its author, the Father of lights, from whom every good and perfect gift comes down. This is declared still more clearly in the following words: not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God.
1771 text
12. We have had our conversation in the world, secondly, in godly sincerity. The difference between simplicity and sincerity seems to be chiefly this: simplicity regards the intention itself, sincerity, the execution of it. And this sincerity relates not barely to our words, but to our whole conversation, as described above. It is not here to be understood in that narrow sense, wherein St. Paul himself sometimes uses it, for speaking the truth, or abstaining from guile, from craft and dissimulation. But in a more extensive meaning, as actually hitting the mark which we aim at by simplicity. Accordingly it implies in this place, that we do in fact speak and do all to the glory of God; that all our words are not only pointed at this, but actually conducive thereto; that all our actions flow on in an even stream, uniformly subservient to this great end: and that in our whole lives, we are moving strait toward God, and that continually; walking steddily on in the highway of holiness, in the paths of justice, mercy and truth.
13. This sincerity is termed by the apostle, godly sincerity, or the sincerity of God, (εἰλικρίνεια Θεοῦ,) to prevent our mistaking or confounding it with the sincerity of the Heathens: (for they had also a kind of sincerity among them, for which they professed no small veneration) likewise to denote the object and end of this, as of every Christian virtue; seeing whatever does not ultimately tend to God, sinks among the beggarly elements of the world. By styling it, the sincerity of God, he also points out the author of it, the Father of lights, from whom every good and perfect gift descendeth: which is still more clearly declared in the following words, Not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 12 in the 1771 Works. Second Corinthians 1:12.
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