^1:12For our reason for confidence²³ is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives²⁴ and sincerity which are from God²⁵—not by human wisdom²⁶ but by the grace of God—we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more²⁷ toward you.

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Footnotes

23 Or “for boasting.”
24 Two viable variants exist at this place in the text: ἁγιότητι (hagiotēti, “holiness”) vs. ἁπλότητι (haplotēti, “pure motives”). A confusion of letters could well have produced the variant ( ): In uncial script the words would have been written ΑΓΙΟΤΗΤΙ and ΑΠΛΟΤΗΤΙ. This, however, does not explain which reading created the other. Overall ἁπλότητι, though largely a Western-Byzantine reading (א2 D F G 𝔐 lat sy), is better suited to the context; it is also a Pauline word while ἁγιότης (hagiotēs) is not. It also best explains the rise of the other variants, πραότητι (praotēti, “gentleness”) and {σπλάγχνοις} (splanchnois, “compassion”). On the other hand, the external evidence in favor of ἁγιότητι is extremely strong (𝔓46 א* A B C K P Ψ 0121 0243 33 81 1739 1881 co). This diversity of provides excellent evidence for authenticity, but because of the internal evidence listed above, ἁπλότητι is to be preferred, albeit only slightly. Or “sincerity.” The two terms translated “pure motives” (ἁπλότης, haplotēs) and “sincerity” (εἰλικρίνεια, eilikrineia) are close synonyms.
25 Grk “pure motives and sincerity of God.”
26 Or “not by worldly wisdom.”
27 Or “and especially.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace.

NLTNew Living Translation

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For our reason for boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in holiness and purity of motive from God, not in merely human wisdom, but by the grace of God.

KJV 1900King James Version

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

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