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Peddling God's Word 2Cor. 2:17
Peddling God's Word
“For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17).
There were many roaming teachers throughout the Roman Empire. They travelled from town to town and offered their learning for a price. Credentials were non-existent. One's living depended not upon the truth of what was taught but upon the ability of the 'teacher' to gather and keep paying students. This of course often resulted in them teaching what was popular and acceptable. Paul spoke of those with 'itching ears' that would gather teachers who would teach what was pleasant to hear. Paul simply stated: we are not like that.
Vine comments on the word 'peddler: “ primarily signifies to be a retailer, to peddle, to hucksterize (from kapēlos, an inn–keeper, a petty retailer, especially of wine, a huckster, pedlar, in contrast to emporos, a merchant); hence, to get base gain by dealing in anything, and so, more generally, to do anything for sordid personal advantage”. Inn keepers were notorious for watering-down the wine they sold. Such is still an easy way to increase one's profits.
People likewise have water-downed the gospel message to make it more appealing and profitable. Many of the most popular preachers simply refuse to teach on certain subjects and thus 'water-down' their message.
Paul later affirms: “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, 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” (2Cor. 4:1-2). When he says that he refused to “tamper with God's word”, that is the same Greek word as 'peddler'. Such is disgraceful and underhanded. To teach God's word is to openly state the truth. Hugh DeLong
