2 Corinthians 3:1

2 Corinthians 3:1 in other versions

• King James Version (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?
• New International Version (NIV)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 (ESV)Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?

Context of 2 Corinthians 3:1

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God — not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:1 word by word

Ἀρχόμεθα πάλιν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστάνειν; ἢ μὴ χρῄζομεν ὥς τινες συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἢ ἐξ ὑμῶνRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Do we beginἄρχομαιarchomai · to rule/beginG756
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• to commendσυνίστημι, συνιστάωsunistaō sunistanō sunistēmi · to commendG4921
• ourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• orεἰei · ifG1487
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• need weχρῄζωchrēzō · to needG5535
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• someτιςtis · oneG5100
• epistlesἐπιστολήepistolē · epistleG1992
• of commendationσυστατικόςsustatikos · recommendedG4956
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• orἤē · orG2228
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 3:1

• 2 Corinthians 2:17For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.
• 2 Corinthians 5:12We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart.
• 2 Corinthians 10:8For if I boast a little too much about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be put to shame.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 3:10According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it.
• 1 Corinthians 4:15For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
• 1 Corinthians 10:33just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.
• Acts 18:27When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
• 1 Corinthians 16:3When I arrive, I will send with letters those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 3:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Do 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Do we begin again - This is designed evidently to meet an objection. He had been speaking of his triumph in the ministry 2 Corinthians 2:14, and of his sincerity and honesty, as contrasted with the conduct of many who corrupted the Word of God, 2 Corinthians 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The preference of the gospel to the law given by Moses. (1-11) The preaching of the apostle was suitable to the excellency and evidence of the gospel, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (12-18) Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3Paul’s ministry was proven by the lives changed by the good news about Jesus, not by a letter of recommendation (compare Acts 18:27). Christ, who caused this change, used Paul to guide believers to him. The true signs are not in letters written with pen and ink on parchment, but in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) in human lives and engraved on human hearts.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-182Co 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…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 3:1

• Letters

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Plainness
• Sufficiency
• Untaken
• Apollos
• Commend
• Corinth
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Covenant, the New
• Epistle

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings