You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us. NLT.

Paul contrasts himself and his colleagues with the ”many hucksters” doing the rounds. Probably he had his critics in mind. They thought they were so great and he was of no consequence. At least, this was the impression they gave.

Here are verses 16,17 in ‘The Message’: ”This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.”

Paul highlights three marks of genuine preaching:

  • Integrity: not preaching for personal profit. ‘The verb used of these ‘peddlers’ was used of wine hawkers who watered down the pure vintage to make fraudulent profits. The implication is that these persons were receiving (excessive?) payment from the Corinthians in return for a diluted, weakened message.’ Paul Barnett;
  • Sincerity: ”with sincerity” is literally ‘tested by the sun’. Paul had nothing to hide;
  • Authority: ‘…those who engage in ministry must speak only the ‘word of God’ and they must do so ‘before God’…While the minister needs gifts appropriate to his calling, let him come not in the strength of those gifts but in the power of the word of God.’ Paul Barnett.