2 Corinthians 3:1
in 2 Corinthians 3Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you?
KJV
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 3
Commentary
12 notes on this verseSince he said many great things about himself, he says: will not someone say: what is this, Paul? By saying this about yourself, you are praising yourself. He removes this objection with the following words. He says this with force, making his speech more expressive. …
This site's exposition
letters of recommendation
on 2 Corinthians 3:1-3
The rivals had come with letters of recommendation, and Paul makes the church his credentials: You yourselves are our letter. Verse 3 has it written with the Spirit of the living God on tablets of human hearts, echoing Jeremiah 31:33.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 301 · Written before 458.
proposed
Paul is telling the Corinthians that they should have been commending him without any reminders of this kind.
A commentator
Didymus the BlindPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 398.
proposed
Paul gently expresses his surprise that the Corinthians are still unaware of the implication of his apostleship.
He anticipates and puts himself an objection which others would have urged against him, 'Thou vauntest thyself;' and this though he had before employed so strong a corrective in the expressions, "Who is sufficient for these things?" and, "of sincerity... speak we." Howbeit he is not satisfied with these. For such is his character. From appearing to say any thing great of himself he is far removed, and avoids it even to great superfluity and excess. And mark, I pray thee, by this instance also, the abundance of his wisdom. For a thing of woeful aspect, I mean tribulations, he so much exalted and showed to be bright and lustrous, that out of what he said the present objection rose up against him. And he expresses this again with vehemence in that place, and with more of encouragement. For here the words are those of love, "Need we, as do some, epistles of commendation?" but there what he says is full of a kind of pride even, necessarily and properly so, of pride, I say, and anger. "For we commend not ourselves again," saith he, "but speak as giving you occasion to glory;" and, "Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? For in the sight of God speak we in Christ. For I fear lest by any means when I come I should not find you such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not." For to prevent all appearance of a wish to flatter, as though he desired honor from them, he speaketh thus, "I fear lest by any means when I come I should not find you such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not." This however comes after many accusations; But in the beginning he speaketh not so, but more gently. And what is it he saith? He spoke of his trials and his perils, and that every where he is conducted as in procession by God in Christ, and that the whole world knoweth of these triumphs. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
After presenting his excuse, by which he won the good will of his hearers, the Apostle continues toward his main intention, namely, to treat about the ministers of the New Testament. In regard to this he does two things: first, he commends the dignity of …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
His ministry among them had, without controversy, been truly great and honourable, how little soever his person was in reality, or how contemptible soever some would have him thought to be. The Corinthians themselves were his real commendation, and a good testimonial for him, that God was with him of a truth, that he was sent of God: You are our epistle,
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Do we begin again to recommend ourselves - Is it needful? Have I nothing but my own word to recommend me? St. Paul chiefly here intends himself; though not excluding Timotheus, Titus, and Silvanus.
Do we begin again to commend ourselves?....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Do we begin again - This is designed evidently to meet an objection. He had been speaking of his triumph in the ministry 2Co 2:14, and of his sincerity and honesty, as contrasted with the conduct of many who corrupted the Word of God, 2Co 2:17. It might be objected that he was magnifying himself in these statements, and designed to commend himself in this manner to the Corinthians. To this he replies in the following verses. To commend ourselves? - To recommend ourselves; do we speak this in our own praise, in order to obtain your favor.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Are we beginning again to recommend ourselves (2Co 5:12) (as some of them might say he had done in his first Epistle; or, a reproof to "some" who had begun doing so)! commendation--recommendation.
Do we begin again to commend ourselves - By speaking thus of our sincerity, Divine mission, etc., is it with a design to conciliate your esteem, or ingratiate ourselves in your affections? By no means. Or need we - epistles of commendation - Are we so destitute of ministerial abilities and Divine influence that we need, in order to be received in different Churches, to have letters of recommendation? Certainly not. God causes us to triumph through Christ in every place; and your conversion is such an evident seal to our ministry as leaves no doubt that God is with us. Letters of commendation - Were frequent in the primitive Church; and were also in use in the apostolic Church, as we learn from this place. But these were, in all probability, not used by the apostles; their helpers, successors, and those who had not the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, needed such letters and they were necessary to prevent the Churches from being imposed on by false teachers. But when apostles came, they brought their own testimonials, the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἀρχόμεθα | archometha | Are we beginning | G757 → | |
| πάλιν | palin | again | G3825 → | 139 times |
| ἑαυτοὺς | he'autous | ourselves | G1438 → | 322 times |
| συνιστάνειν; | sunistanein | to commend? | G4921 → | 16 times |
| ἢ | e | Or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| μὴ | me | surely not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| χρῄζομεν | chrezomen | we need | G5535 → | |
| ὥς | hos | like | G5613 → | 500 times |
| τινες | tines | some | G5100 → | 528 times |
| συστατικῶν | sustatikon | commendatory | G4956 → | |
| ἐπιστολῶν | epistolon | letters | G1992 → | 24 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ἐξ | ex | from | G1537 → | 911 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
ἈρχόμεθαAre we beginning
archomethaG757 →
πάλινagain
palinG3825 →139 times
ἑαυτοὺςourselves
he'autousG1438 →322 times
συνιστάνειν;to commend?
sunistaneinG4921 →16 times
ἢOr
eG2228 →342 times
μὴsurely not
meG3361 →1066 times
χρῄζομενwe need
chrezomenG5535 →
ὥςlike
hosG5613 →500 times
τινεςsome
tinesG5100 →528 times
συστατικῶνcommendatory
sustatikonG4956 →
ἐπιστολῶνletters
epistolonG1992 →24 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
ἐξfrom
exG1537 →911 times
ὑμῶνyou
humonG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Corinthians 10:12We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance.
it leads to
- Proverbs 27:2
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 10:18
For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Luke 18:11
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
- Romans 15:18
I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,
- Proverbs 27:2
Through
2 Corinthians 12:11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 11:5
I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”
- 2 Corinthians 11:5
Through
2 Corinthians 5:12We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 1:14
as you have already understood us in part, so that you may boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of our Lord Jesus.
- Galatians 6:12–14
Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 1:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Didymus the Blind, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 6 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 301; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.