2 Corinthians 3:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:1-5

In these verses, I. The apostle makes an apology for seeming to commend himself. He thought it convenient to protest his sincerity to them, because there were some at Corinth who endeavoured to blast his reputation; yet he was not desirous of vain-glory. And he tells them, 1. That he neither needed nor desired any verbal commendation to them, nor letters testimonial from them, as some others did, meaning the false apostles or teachers, 2 Cor. 3:1. His ministry among them had, without... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:4-11

3:4-11 We can believe this with such confidence because we believe it through Christ and in the sight of God. It is not that in our own resources we are adequate to reckon up the effect of anything that we have done, as it were personally, but our adequacy comes from God, who has made us adequate to be ministers of the new relationship which has come into existence between him and men. This new relationship does not depend on a written document, but on the Spirit. The written document is a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:5

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves ,.... Though we are sufficient for this work to which God has called us, and have such trust and confidence that he has blessed and owned us, and done such great things by us; yet we do not ascribe anything to ourselves, to any power of ours, to any self-sufficiency in us: for "we are not sufficient of ourselves" neither for the work of the ministry, nor for the conversion of sinners, nor for faith and hope in God, nor for any spiritual work whatever;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:5

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves - We do not arrogate to ourselves any power to enlighten the mind or change the heart, we are only instruments in the hand of God. Nor was it possible for us apostles to think, to invent, such a scheme of salvation as is the Gospel; and if we even had been equal to the invention, how could we have fulfilled such promises as this scheme of salvation abounds with? God alone could fulfill these promises, and he fulfils only those which he makes himself.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Corinthians 3:5

Verse 5 5.Not that we are competent. (370) When he thus disclaims all merit, it is not as if he abased himself in merely pretended modesty, but instead of this, he speaks what he truly thinks. Now we see, that he leaves man nothing. For the smallest part, in a manner, of a good work is thought. In other words, (371) it has neither the first part of the praise, nor the second; and yet he does not allow us even this. As it is less tothink than to will, how foolish a part do those act, who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:1-5

Soul-literature. "Do we begin again to commend ourselves?" etc. In the early Church it was customary for the member who was travelling into another locality to take with him a letter of commendation from the Church to which he or she belonged. The apostle says he did not require such a document from the Corinthian Church, as some others did, for they themselves were letters written on his own heart; and his ministry was a letter written on their hearts also. They were the living "epistles... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

In the close of the last chapter St. Paul had spoken of men who corrupted the Word of God (retailed it as a commodity for their own profit), and he had put himself and his ministry in contrast to them. Likely enough, this would provoke criticism. The quick interrogation comes - Was he commending himself, or did he need letters of commendation to them and from them? "Ye are our epistle written on his heart, known and read of all men—an epistle coming from Christ, and produced instrumentally by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:1-11

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

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

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