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? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we? 2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone, 3revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets 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 are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.
• 2 Corinthians 5:12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.
• 2 Corinthians 10:8For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 3:10According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds.
• 1 Corinthians 4:15For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
• 1 Corinthians 10:33just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.
• Acts 18:27When Apollos wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he assisted greatly those who had believed by grace,
• 1 Corinthians 16:3Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation 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