2 Corinthians 4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
One of the key problems that prompted Paul to write this letter is now introduced. There were people who had gone to Corinth and preached a form of the gospel that was legalistic and who had selfish motives. This was an issue Paul confronted with other early churches. He describes this problem in three ways in this verse. First, this way attempts to hide shameful things. The “things” here is not explained but could include many practices of these opponents. Paul will list many of these things in this letter, especially ch. 10. The things that are kept hidden are shameful when revealed by the truth of the gospel. Paul is re-emphasizing the gospel in this letter, and by doing that, he is also revealing the shame of the opponents.
Second, Paul renounces and rejects these practices by refusing to get involved in them. He will not walk in cunning or craftiness by trying to hide shameful things. He has nothing to hide because he preaches Christ as the “yes” of God. His gospel is about grace, forgiveness, and transformation.
Third, Paul will also not distort the word of God. This distortion can happen when people preach legalism and not transformation. This is one of the challenges of understanding the deep things of the gospel and living them out. Faith and obedience go together. You cannot have one or the other. Tampering with God’s word can happen when we misinterpret the Bible. This can come through naïveté, ignorance, poor methodology, or purposeful distortion for selfish reasons. We must study the Bible carefully so that we can teach it to others. Paul told Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Paul preached God’s word of the good news of Jesus faithfully and without distortion. His conscience was clear. He communicated as clearly as he could so that others could grow in their awareness of the gospel. His goal was for the gospel to be imprinted on the consciences of others so that it could be their primary guide. He had nothing to hide. People should be able to look at him and see the gospel clearly proclaimed and clearly lived out.
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