2 Corinthians 5:15

and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again.

The apostle, first of all, repeats his assertion as to the sincerity of his purpose in his ministry: Since, now, we know the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. This is not a slavish fear, but the true reverence of a servant who is at the same time a dear child of the Lord. For fear of the Judge's wrath does not torment the hearts of those that have been rescued from the wrath to come, but the remembrance of the judgment-seat awakens a reverent awe of the holy and glorious God, and causes all true ministers to be watchful and vigilant in their labors. It is in this sense that they persuade men of their sincerity, as Paul did; they prove their disposition to them. But we have been made manifest to God, the apostle says: God knows the motives that are governing him in his ministry. And he hopes and trusts that he has been made manifest also in the consciences of the Corinthian Christians, who certainly have had sufficient opportunity to estimate the evidence for his sincerity, among whom he has given so many proofs of the spirit that lived in him.

But in appealing to their testimony in this manner, the apostle again wants it understood that he is not seeking his own glory: For not again arc we commending ourselves unto you, but as giving you occasion to glory on our account. Paul was not worrying about his own glory and honor, since that was in the hands of the Lord, before whom everything was revealed. He was not seeking any recommendation on their part, but, incidentally, his reminder of the facts of his ministry might well serve as a hint to them, give them occasion, cause, to boast on behalf of Paul, that they might have some matter of glorying against those that glory in outward appearance and not in heart. Paul here has his opponents in Corinth in mind who were depending altogether upon the outward impression, while their heart lacked the simple sincerity which characterized the work of the apostle. Those men might boast of special revelations, or of eloquence, or of letters of commendation, or of Jewish birth. But Paul's boasting was the faithfulness of his work as a messenger of Jesus Christ.

This fact he now emphasizes once more: For whether we are beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we are of a sober mind, it is unto you. The zeal of Paul for his Master sometimes carried him to such heights of enthusiasm that some people may have thought him deranged, as Festus did. But he protests that in such moods of highest devotion he is still serving God, that the ardor of his spirit is not the enthusiasm of a fanatic. On the other hand, some people may have thought him altogether too dry and sober in some of his dealings; they missed the effect of a deliberate rhetoric. But Paul states that this behavior also was in their interest, that he was acting also in this respect as a true pastor, who at all times has the welfare of all his parishioners at heart. With his heart lifted up to God, and yet united with his neighbor in true love, Paul carried out the work of his calling, misunderstood by many of those that lacked true spiritual understanding, and yet happy in the consciousness that his work was receiving recognition by the true children of the Lord.

The highest motive of the apostle, however, was that of Christ's love: For the love of Christ urges us on, since we draw this conclusion, that One died for all, therefore all died. That was the chief reason for the sincerity of his service, the example of his Lord and Savior, That love of Christ, so abundantly proved, so unceasingly active, was urging the apostle on to make use of all faithfulness in his ministry, to count nothing a sacrifice if it was done in His service. And Paul's argument from the love of Christ in its application to the work of the ministry is powerful. Christ died as the Substitute for all men; therefore in His death all men died; His death was actually the punishment of all sinners, the expiation of their guilt. This being true, then the second proposition also stands: And for all He died, in order that the living should no longer live to themselves, but to Him that on their behalf died and rose again. So the purposes of the atonement, which was made for all men, are not completely realized or fulfilled without the response of man's faith and obedience. All men that hear the Gospel, hearing that Christ died in their stead, for their salvation, should thereby be aroused to devote their lives, not to any selfish pursuits, but to the service of Him whose death and resurrection earned for them eternal life. It is the most powerful appeal that can be made to a Christian that has learned to know his Savior, and should be heeded with joyful alacrity by all. It was the motive that constrained Paul in his work and should serve as an example for all times.