In this first sub-section, which is transitional, Paul's intention was to convince the Corinthians that his recent actions arose from sincere motives.
1:12 He first claimed generally that his actions did not arise from the motives that drive unbelievers, namely self-serving ambition. This motivation seems wise to the carnal mind. However Paul's motives resulted from God's grace at work in his life. He viewed all of life from this perspective seeking not to advance self but the cause of Christ. He could say this unashamedly (with "proud confidence") and with a clear conscience. His motives had been holy66and sincere (not a mixture of proper and improper motives). Such had been his motivation toward all people and especially toward the Corinthians.
"The derivation of the word eilikrinia[sic], translated here and in ii. 17 by sincerity, is uncertain. It may refer to the cleansing process of rolling and shaking in a sieve, so that what is purged and winnowed in this way may be regarded as unadulterated (cf. the only other mention of the word by Paul in 1 Cor. v. 8). Or it may denote what is found to be unstained when examined in the sunlight. This latter connotation would convey the suggestion in this passage that Paul's character would stand the test of the searching gaze of God."67
"What Paul means here to say is, that the virtues which distinguished his deportment in Corinth were not merely forms of his own excellence, but forms of the divine life; modes in which the Spirit of God which dwelt in him manifested itself."68
"We might well add a new beatitude to the list, Blessed is the man who has nothing to hide.'"69
1:13 Paul seems to have alluded to a criticism of himself here too. Evidently some were saying that to understand Paul's letters to them his readers had to read between the lines. They implied he really intended something other than what he had written or he was being deliberately obscure.70The apostle's claim here was that what he had intended was self-evident in his correspondence. There were no hidden meanings or messages. Paul wrote some things that were hard to understand (2 Pet. 3:15) and sometimes he was ironical, but he did not write one thing and mean another.
The second part of this verse probably goes with verse 14 rather than 13. Put a semicolon in the middle of verse 13 after "understand"and a comma at the end.71"The end"refers to the end of the Corinthians' lives.
1:14 Even though Paul's correspondence with them had been straightforward, they had not grasped the greatness of his love for them and how proud he was of them (1 Cor. 4:14; cf. 1 Thess. 2:19-20). They had a legitimate right to be proud of Paul as their spiritual father as he had a right to be proud of them as his spiritual children (1 Cor. 4:15).
"This affirmation of affection not only corroborates the complete genuineness of his own attitude towards them, but attests his confidence regarding the authenticity of their profession of faith in the Gospel."72
"The day of our Lord Jesus"is the day when their joy would be complete, namely at the judgment seat of Christ (5:10-11; cf. Phil. 2:16).
"St. Paul still believed that the Day of the Lord would come soon (1 Cor. vii. 29, x. 11, xv. 51), and had imparted this belief to his converts (see on Rom. xiii. 11-14, p. 379); it is therefore no remote date to which he appeals. Cf. 1 Thess. ii. 19."73
