How did Paul describe his own ministry in contrast to the many who corrupt the Word of God?
Paul contrasted his ministry with those who corrupt or hawk God's Word as an adulterated product. He said he did not water down the message or act like a huckster. Instead, he came in complete sincerity, as of God, in the sight of God, speaking in Christ, bringing the absolute truth.
Les teaches that Paul is defending his apostleship against false teachers. The word “corrupt” in 2 Corinthians 2:17 is likened to wine watered down with water. Paul says he did not come with a product likened unto wine watered down, and he did not come like a huckster hawking wares not worth half of what he charged. Many people do hawk an adulterated product of the spiritual, but Paul says he did not do that. He came in complete sincerity, as of God, in the sight of God, and we speak in Christ. Les explains that Paul had in mind the kind of people described in Jude, false teachers. Paul is not like these false teachers; he is bringing the absolute truth.
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.