2 Corinthians is replete with remarks regarding sincerity. It would be rightly said that the theme of the whole book is The Sincerity of the Kingdom of God. This underlying concern flows from the first chapter where Paul responds to suspicions about his motives (2 Cor. 1:17), to his appeal for the Corinthians’ sincere love (2 Cor. 6:11), to his denunciation of the integrity of the “super apostles” (2 Cor. 11:13), all the way to his final claim that he cannot do anything against the truth (2 Cor. 13:8).
One of the motifs that brings out that theme of sincerity is the reality of the “sight of God”—that is, being in his presence. All things are before God (Heb. 4:13); he is the judge who will hold all accountable. However, particularly as a minister of the gospel, Paul speaks in the sight of God. That is, he operates only with concern for the Lord’s judgment and without ulterior motive.
If we examine this theme carefully, we should see that the sale of biblical instruction is a warning sign of a ministry that will be accompanied by moral failing.
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