2 Corinthians 3:2 BSB

2 Corinthians 3:2

You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men;

KJV

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

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Commentary

3 voices

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

Ye are our epistle,.... Here a reason is given why they stood in no need of letters of commendation, to or from the church at Corinth, because that church was their living epistle, and which was much preferable to any written one.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Ye are our recommendatory letter - More convincing than bare words could be. Written on our hearts - Deeply engraven there, and plainly legible to all around us.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Note, There is nothing more delightful to faithful ministers, nor more to their commendation, than the success of their ministry, evidenced in the hearts and lives of those among whom they labour. The apostle is careful not to assume too much to himself, but to ascribe all the praise to God. He says they were the epistle of Christ,

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

16 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ἡ	hē	The	G3588 →
ἐπιστολὴ	epistolē	letter	G1992 →
ἡμῶν	hēmōn	of us	G3165 →
ὑμεῖς	humeis	you yourselves	G4771 →
ἐστε	este	are	G1510 →
ἐγγεγραμμένη	engegrammenē	inscribed	G1449 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
ταῖς	tais	the	G3588 →
καρδίαις	kardiais	hearts	G2588 →
ἡμῶν,	hēmōn	of us,	G3165 →
γινωσκομένη	ginōskomenē	being known	G1097 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
ἀναγινωσκομένη	anaginōskomenē	being read	G314 →
ὑπὸ	hupo	by	G5259 →
πάντων	pantōn	all	G3956 →
ἀνθρώπων,	anthrōpōn	men,	G444 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Philippians 1:7
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you…
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:3
  I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.
- Philippians 1:5
  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
- 2 Timothy 2:9
  for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
- Colossians 4:18
  This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Through
Romans 1:8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
leads to
- Romans 16:19
  Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.
- 1 Corinthians 1:4
  I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:8–9
  For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need…
Through
1 Thessalonians 1:8
For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need…
leads to
- Romans 1:8
  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.

Featured studies on this passage

On 2 Corinthians 3:2

The New Covenant — Jeremiah 31:31–34

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On 2 Corinthians 3:2

The Unveiled Face, MannaFest

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Walks through 2 Corinthians 3

The Heart

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About 2 Corinthians

The Crown of Thorns — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

2 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 3 →The featured study →

Continue: 2 Corinthians 3 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About 2 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About 2 Corinthians