For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.
Parallel translations
- WEB But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.
- KJV But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
- BSB Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
- NKJV But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
- NASB but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God approved and entrusted Paul with the gospel, so he speaks to please God, not people. He preaches as a steward accountable to the One who tests hearts.
Overview
Paul sees himself as approved and "entrusted with the Good News," a stewardship that shapes his aim. He seeks to please God rather than win human applause, knowing God examines the heart. This frees gospel ministry from people-pleasing and anchors it in faithfulness to the One who searches and judges all motives.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 34
- Gal 1:10For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.
- Rom 8:27He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.
- Gal 2:7but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision
- Ps 17:3You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
- 2 Tim 1:14That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
- 2 Cor 4:2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- Eph 6:6not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
- Ps 139:1–2For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.
- Eph 3:8To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
- Jer 32:19great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
- 1 Cor 4:1–2So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries.
- Titus 1:3but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior;
- 1 Chr 29:17I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you.
- 1 Kgs 8:39then hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children of men;)
- 1 Tim 1:11–13according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
- Num 27:16“Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
- Prov 17:3The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts.
- 1 Cor 9:17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
- Luke 16:11If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
- Heb 4:13There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
- 2 Cor 5:11Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.
- Rev 2:23I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
- Jer 17:10“I, Yahweh, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”
- Col 3:22Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
- Luke 12:42The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?
- 1 Tim 6:20Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge;
- Ps 44:21won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
- 1 Cor 2:4–5My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
- John 21:17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
- 1 Cor 7:25Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
- 2 Cor 5:16Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
- 2 Tim 2:2The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
- John 2:24–25But Jesus didn’t trust himself to them, because he knew everyone,
- Ps 7:9Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.
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