1Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some do, letters of commendation to you or from you? [3:2] You are our letter, written on our hearts, being known and read by all people, [3:3] being made evident that you are a letter of Christ, having been ministered to by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of hearts of flesh. [3:4] And such confidence we have through Christ toward God. [3:5] Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to reckon anything as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, [3:6] who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.
2CO 3:1-6
Ministers of a New Covenant
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, letters of commendation were a common practice, especially in contexts of patronage and social networking. Such letters served as formal introductions, vouching for the bearer’s character or credentials. Paul’s rhetorical question about whether he needs such letters reflects a challenge to this cultural norm. Instead, he points to the Corinthian believers themselves as his 'letter,' inscribed not on papyrus or stone but on human hearts by the Spirit of God. This metaphor would resonate with Jewish listeners familiar with the Torah’s inscription on stone tablets, while also subverting Greco-Roman expectations of written validation. Paul’s emphasis on the Spirit over ink aligns with his broader theology of the new covenant, which transcends external forms and relies on divine transformation. His confidence in this ministry stems not from his own sufficiency but from Christ, a claim that would contrast sharply with the self-promotion typical of Greco-Roman orators and philosophers.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
2CO 3:1
- 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?
- BSB
- Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
- Koinōnos
- Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some do, letters of commendation to you or from you?
2CO 3:2
- KJV
- Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
- BSB
- You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
- Koinōnos
- You are our letter, written on our hearts, being known and read by all people,
2CO 3:3
- KJV
- Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
- BSB
- It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
- Koinōnos
- being made evident that you are a letter of Christ, having been ministered to by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of hearts of flesh.
2CO 3:4
- KJV
- And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
- BSB
- Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.
- Koinōnos
- And such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
2CO 3:5
- KJV
- Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
- BSB
- Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
- Koinōnos
- Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to reckon anything as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
2CO 3:6
- KJV
- Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
- BSB
- And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
- Koinōnos
- who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
2CO 3:1
- to commend?:The word translated 'to commend' here carried the sense of presenting someone with confidence, as if vouching for their character or qualifications, often with the implication of introducing them to others.
2CO 3:3
- having been ministered to:The term translated 'having been ministered to' implies active, often humble, service to others, similar to waiting on tables or performing duties for someone else's benefit.
2CO 3:6
- ministers:The word translated 'ministers' referred to a servant or attendant, often one who performed practical, hands-on service, rather than a high-ranking official.
- covenant,:The word translated 'covenant' in this context often referred to a legal will or testament, a binding agreement established by one party, rather than a mutual contract between equals.