Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Terror of the Lord - the coming judgment so terrible to unbelievers (Estius). But Bengel, 'the fear of the Lord' (2 Corinthians 7:1; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Acts 9:31; Romans 3:18; Ephesians 5:21). Persuade. Ministers should use the terrors of the Lord to persuade men, not to rouse their enmity (Jude 1:23). Alford, "persuade men" by our whole lives-namely, of our integrity as ministers. But this would have been expressed after "persuade" had it been the sense. The connection is: He was accused of seeking to please men, he therefore says (cf. Galatians 1:10), 'It is as knowing the terror (or fear) of the Lord that we persuade men; BUT (whether men who hear our preaching think us sincere or not) we are made manifest unto God as such (2 Corinthians 4:2); and I trust also in your consciences.' Those so 'manifested' need have no "terror" as to their being 'manifested before the judgment-seat' (2 Corinthians 5:10).