2 Corinthians 3:4
in 2 Corinthians 3Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward:
KJV
And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 3
Commentary
11 notes on this verseThe apostle Paul, after describing in a few words the benefits of God, states in conclusion: "And for such offices, who is sufficient?" Whence he also says in another place: "Such is the assurance we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. He also it is who made us fit ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life."
This site's exposition
Such confidence before God
on 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
God has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, the phrase of Jeremiah 31:31. The clause the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life sets the law as an outward code against the Spirit who writes within.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Paul's purpose was to show that the ancient prophets did not have this position of trust in God's eyes, because theirs was a preparing ministry.
Yet because it was a great thing he had uttered, he therefore quickly checks himself, saying, "And such confidence have we through Christ to Godward," And again refers all to God: for it is Christ, saith he, Who is the Author of these things to us.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Since he showed that the New Testament is above the Old, and it was natural to conclude that we too — the apostles, ministers of the New Testament — are above Moses, who served the Old Testament, but this seemed arrogant, he says: nothing is …
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Above, the Apostle excused himself, that he was not seeking his own glory, because he did not need it; here he proves that he is not seeking his own glory. Indeed, everything good he …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
) that their hearts were like the ark of the covenant, containing the tables of the law and the gospel, written with the finger, that is, by the Spirit, of the living God. He utterly disclaims the taking of any praise to themselves, and ascribes all the glory to God: " We are not sufficient of ourselves,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And such trust have we,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Confidence toward God is solid and real, as looking to Him for the strength needed now, and also for the reward of grace to be given hereafter. Compare Ac 24:15, "hope toward God." Human confidence is unreal in that it looks to man for its help and its reward.
Such trust have we - We have the fullest conviction that God has thus accredited our ministry; and that ye are thus converted unto him, and are monuments of his mercy, and proofs of the truth of our ministry.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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. Paul had no success which he did not trace to him; he had no joy of which he was not the source; he had no confidence, or trust in God of which Christ was not the author; he had no hope of success in his ministry which did not depend on him. To God-ward - Toward God; in regard to God (πρὸς τὸν Θεόν pros ton Theon). Our confidence relates to God. It is confidence that he has appointed us, and sent us forth; and confidence that he will still continue to own and to bless us.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Πεποίθησιν | pepoithesin | Confidence | G4006 → | 6 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τοιαύτην | toiauten | such | G5108 → | 56 times |
| ἔχομεν | echomen | we have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστοῦ | christou | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| πρὸς | pros | toward | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεόν· | theon | God; | G2316 → | 1312 times |
ΠεποίθησινConfidence
pepoithesinG4006 →6 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
τοιαύτηνsuch
toiautenG5108 →56 times
ἔχομενwe have
echomenG2192 →707 times
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
ΧριστοῦChrist
christouG5547 →523 times
πρὸςtoward
prosG4314 →700 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
θεόν·God;
theonG2316 →1312 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
Philippians 1:6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
- Ephesians 4:12
to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,
- Hebrews 13:20–21
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
- Psalms 138:8
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever— do not abandon the works of Your hands.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24
Through
2 Corinthians 2:14But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
- Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
- 2 Corinthians 2:15–16
For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
- Ephesians 5:2
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); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Against the Pelagians 3.9; John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 6 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.