A common misinterpretation of II Corinthians 4:5 is to take it as a blanket prohibition against preachers ever referencing their own lives or experiences, leading to an impersonal ministry style that ignores Paul's own practice elsewhere of using personal testimony to illustrate truths; another error is to use it to criticize all personal sharing in sermons as 'preaching oneself,' overlooking the verse's specific context of rejecting self-exaltation amid Corinthian accusations of self-promotion, rather than banning all autobiographical elements in service to the gospel.
II Corinthians 4:5
King James Version (1769)
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
In II Corinthians 4:5, Paul emphasizes the essence of authentic Christian ministry: it is not self-centered or promotional of personal agendas, but wholly devoted to proclaiming Christ Jesus as Lord, while humbly serving others for His sake, highlighting a gospel-centered humility that prioritizes Jesus' lordship and the welfare of the congregation over any apostolic ego or status.