2 Corinthians 3:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:1-11

St. Paul's ministry is his sufficient letter of commendation. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:4

Such trust. The confidence, namely, that we need no other recommendation to or from you. Through Christ. Who alone can inspire such confidence in myself and my mission ( 1 Corinthians 15:10 ). To God-ward; i.e. in relation to God; towards whom the whole Being of Christ is directed ( John 1:1 ), and therefore all the work of his servants ( Romans 5:1 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

The power, and the agency it uses. The apostle here dwells upon the confidence he has in the Corinthian Church as the all sufficient commendation of his ministry and apostleship. But he will take no honour to himself over his successes at Corinth. He had but been the agent, and the power and sufficiency were altogether of God. St. Paul was always before men firm, confident, bold; but always before God humble and dependent. The expression, "through Christ to God-ward," probably means... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 3:4

And such trust have we - Such confidence have we that we are appointed by God, and that he accepts our work. Such evidence have we in the success of our labors; such irrefragable proof that God blesses us; that we have trust, or confidence, that we are sent by God, and are owned by him in our ministry. His confidence did not rest on letters of introduction from people, but in the evidence of the divine presence, and the divine acceptance of his work.Through Christ - By the agency of Christ.... 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 3:3-4

2 Corinthians 3:3-4. Forasmuch as ye Some of whom were once so immoral, but who are now so pious and virtuous; are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ Which he has formed and published to the world; ministered by us Whom he has used herein as his instruments; therefore ye are our letter also; written, not with ink As epistles generally are; but with the Spirit of the living God Influencing your hearts, and producing that variety of graces and virtues, which render many... 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

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