2 Coríntios 3:5, 2 Coríntios 3:6 NVT

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:5

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves. He here reverts to the question asked in 2 Corinthians 2:16 . He cannot bear the implication that any "confidence" on his part rests on anything short of the overwhelming sense that he is but an agent, or rather nothing but an instrument, in the hands of God. To think anything as of ourselves. He has, indeed, the capacity to form adequate judgments about his work, but it does not come from his own resources ( ἀφ ̓ ἑαυτῶν ) or his own... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:5

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves - This is evidently designed to guard against the appearance of boasting, or of self-confidence. He had spoken of his confidence; of his triumph; of his success; of his undoubted evidence that God had sent him. He here says, that he did not mean to be understood as affirming that any of his success came from himself, or that he was able by his own strength to accomplish the great things which had been effected by his ministry. He well knew that he had no... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Corinthians 3:5-6

2 Corinthians 3:5-6. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves For this great work of converting sinners, and creating them anew; or so much as to think any thing as of ourselves To form even right views of the gospel and divine things, much less to communicate such views to others, and less still to render them effectual to men’s salvation. But our sufficiency is of God To whom we do and must ascribe whatever qualifications we have for our office, and whatever success we have in it; who... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

3:1-6:13 TRUE CHRISTIAN SERVICEThe servant and the message (3:1-18)Some of the teachers who came to Corinth brought with them letters of recommendation from their home churches, and claimed that these letters gave them authority to teach. Paul carried no such letters, with the result that his opponents suggested he had no right to teach. Paul replies that pieces of paper do not guarantee the truth of people’s ministry. A better means of judging is by the fruit of their work. The Corinthian... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Corinthians 3:5

of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 . think = reckon. Greek logizomai. See the frequent occurance in Romans 4:0 , count, reckon, &c. any thing . Greek. tis . App-123 ., of. Greek. ek . App-101 . sufficiency . Greek. hikanotes. Only here. of . Greek. ek , as above. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:5

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account any thing as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God.See under 2Cor. 3:2,2 Corinthians 3:3. Although claiming the Corinthians as his epistle, he wished to make it clear that the true author is God, and that to him all of the glory belongs, hence the repetition of this thought here. Back in 2 Corinthians 2:16, Paul's implied answer to the question, "Who is sufficient for these things?" was to the effect that he and the other apostles... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

2 Corinthians 3:4-5. And such trust have we, &c.— As if he had said, "But mistake me not, as if I boasted of myself. This so great boasting which I use is only my confidence in God, through Christ; for it was God who made me a minister of the gospel, who borrowed on me the ability for it; and whatever I perform in it is wholly from him." Πεποιθησις, trust, is a milder term for boasting. So St. Paul uses it, ch. 2Co 10:7 compared with 2 Corinthians 5:8. See also Romans 2:19. The word... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:5

5. The Greek is, "Not that we are (even yet after so long experience as ministers) sufficient to think anything OF ourselves as (coming) FROM ourselves; but our sufficiency is (derived) FROM God." "From" more definitely refers to the source out of which a thing comes; "of" is more general. to think—Greek, to "reason out" or "devise"; to attain to sound preaching by our reasonings [THEODORET]. The "we" refers here to ministers ( :-). anything—even the least. We cannot expect too little from man,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Corinthians 3:1-10

B. Exposition of Paul’s view of the ministry 3:1-6:10The apostle proceeded to explain his view of Christian ministry further so his readers would appreciate and adopt his viewpoint and not lose heart. read more