2 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

◄ 2 Corinthians 3:1 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

English Standard Version
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?

New American Standard Bible
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

King James Bible
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

International Standard Version
Are we beginning to recommend ourselves again? Unlike some people, we do not need letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we?

American Standard Version
Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need (as some do) epistles of commendation to you, or from you?

Darby Bible Translation
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or do we need, as some, commendatory letters to you, or commendatory from you?

Young's Literal Translation
Do we begin again to recommend ourselves, except we need, as some, letters of recommendation unto you, or from you?

Cross References

Acts 18:27
And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brothers wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

Romans 16:1
I commend to you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

1 Corinthians 16:3
And when I come, whomsoever you shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality to Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 5:12
For we commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that you may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

2 Corinthians 10:12
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

2 Corinthians 10:18
For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

2 Corinthians 12:11
I am become a fool in glorying; you have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very most chief apostles, though I be nothing.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

3:1-11 Even the appearance of self-praise and courting human applause, is painful to the humble and spiritual mind. Nothing is more delightful to faithful ministers, or more to their praise, than the success of their ministry, as shown in the spirits and lives of those among whom they labour. The law of Christ was written in their hearts, and the love of Christ shed abroad there. Nor was it written in tables of stone, as the law of God given to Moses, but on the fleshy (not fleshly, as fleshliness denotes sensuality) tables of the heart, Eze 36:26. Their hearts were humbled and softened to receive this impression, by the new-creating power of the Holy Spirit. He ascribes all the glory to God. And remember, as our whole dependence is upon the Lord, so the whole glory belongs to him alone. The letter killeth: the letter of the law is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel, we shall not be the better for so doing: but the Holy Spirit gives life spiritual, and life eternal. The Old Testament dispensation was the ministration of death, but the New Testament of life. The law made known sin, and the wrath and curse of God; it showed us a God above us, and a God against us; but the gospel makes known grace, and Emmanuel, God with us. Therein the righteousness of God by faith is revealed; and this shows us that the just shall live by his faith; this makes known the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ, for obtaining the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The gospel so much exceeds the law in glory, that it eclipses the glory of the legal dispensation. But even the New Testament will be a killing letter, if shown as a mere system or form, and without dependence on God the Holy Spirit, to give it a quickening power.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

CHAPTER 3

2Co 3:1-18. The Sole Commendation He Needs to Prove God's Sanction of His Ministry He Has in His Corinthian Converts: His Ministry Excels the Mosaic, as the Gospel of Life and Liberty Excels the Law of Condemnation.

1. 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. (Compare 2Co 10:18). The "some" refers to particular persons of the "many" (2Co 2:17) teachers who opposed him, and who came to Corinth with letters of recommendation from other churches; and when leaving that city obtained similar letters from the Corinthians to other churches. The thirteenth canon of the Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451) ordained that "clergymen coming to a city where they were unknown, should not be allowed to officiate without letters commendatory from their own bishop." The history (Ac 18:27) confirms the existence of the custom here alluded to in the Epistle: "When Apollos was disposed to pass into Achaia [Corinth], the brethren [of Ephesus] wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him." This was about two years before the Epistle,and is probably one of the instances to which Paul refers, as many at Corinth boasted of their being followers of Apollos (1Co 1:12).