2 Corinthians 3:1
Are we beginning, again to commend ourselves? Or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?
He anticipates and puts himself an objection which others would have urged against him, ‘You vaunt yourself;’ and this though he had before employed so strong a corrective in the expressions, Who is sufficient for these things? and, of sincerity…speak we. Howbeit he is not satisfied with these. For such is his character. From appearing to say anything great of himself he is far removed, and avoids it even to great superfluity and excess. And mark, I pray you, by this instance also, the abundance of his wisdom. For a thing of woeful aspect, I mean tribulations, he so much exalted and showed to be bright and lustrous, that out of what he said the present objection rose up against him. And he does so also towards the end. For after having enumerated numberless perils, insults, straits, necessities, and as many such like things as be, he added, We commend not ourselves, but speak as giving you occasion to glory. And he expresses this again with vehemence in that place, and with more of encouragement. For here the words are those of love, Need we, as do some, epistles of commendation? but there what he says is full of a kind of pride even, necessarily and properly so, of pride, I say, and anger. For we commend not ourselves again, says he, but speak as giving you occasion to glory; and, Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? For in the sight of God speak we in Christ. For I fear lest by any means when I come I should not find you such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as you would not. (ib. 12:19, 20.) For to prevent all appearance of a wish to flatter, as though he desired honor from them, he speaks thus, I fear lest by any means when I come I should not find you such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as you would not. This however comes after many accusations; But in the beginning he speaks not so, but more gently. And what is it he says? He spoke of his trials and his perils, and that every where he is conducted as in procession by God in Christ, and that the whole world knows of these triumphs. Since then he has uttered great things of himself, he urges this objection against himself, Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Now what he says is this: Perchance some one will object, ‘What is this, O Paul? Do you say these things of yourself, and exalt yourself?’ To do away then with this suspicion, he says, We desire not this, that is, to boast and exalt ourselves; yea, so far are we from needing epistles of commendation to you that you are to us instead of an epistle. For, says he,
2 Corinthians 3:2
You are our epistle.
What means this, you are? ‘Did we need to be commended to others, we should have produced you before them instead of an epistle.’ And this he said in the former Epistle. For the seal of mine Apostleship are you. But he does not here say it in this manner, but in irony so as to make his question, Do we need epistles of commendation? more cutting. And in allusion to the false apostles, he added, as do some, [epistles of commendation] to you, or letters of commendation from you to others. Then because what he had said was severe, he softens it by adding, You are our epistle, written in our hearts, known of all,
2 Corinthians 3:3
Being made manifest that you are an epistle of Christ.
Here he testifies not only to their love, but also to their good works: since they are able to show unto all men by their own virtue the high worth of their teacher, for this is the meaning of, You are our epistle.
What letters would have done to commend and gain respect for us, that you do both as seen and heard of; for the virtue of the disciples is wont to adorn and to commend the teacher more than any letter.
Written in our hearts.
That is, which all know; we so bear you about every where and have you in mind. As though he said, You are our commendation to others, for we both have you continually in our heart and proclaim to all your good works. Because then that even to others yourselves are our commendation, we need no epistles from you; but further, because we love you exceedingly, we need no commendation to you. For to those who are strangers one has need of letters, but you are in our mind. Yet he said not merely, you are [in it], but written in [it], that is, you cannot slide out of it. For just as from letters by reading, so from our heart by perceiving, all are acquainted with the love we bear you. If then the object of a letter be to certify, such an one is my friend and let him have free intercourse [with you], your love is sufficient to secure all this. For should we go to you, we have no need of others to commend us, seeing your love anticipates this; and should we go to others, again we need no letters, the same love again sufficing unto us in their stead, for we carry about the epistle in our hearts.
- Then exalting them still higher, he even calls them the epistle of Christ, saying,
2 Corinthians 3:3. Being made manifest that you are an epistle of Christ.
And having said this, he afterwards hence takes ground and occasion for a discussion on the Law. And there is another aim in his here styling them His epistle. For above as commending him, he called them an epistle; but here an epistle of Christ, as having the Law of God written in them. For what things God wished to declare to all and to you, these are written in your hearts. But it was we who prepared you to receive the writing. For just as Moses hewed the stones and tables, so we, your souls. Whence he says,
Ministered by us.
Yet in this they were on an equality; for the former were written on by God, and these by the Spirit. Where then is the difference?
Written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh.
Wide as the difference between the Spirit and ink, and a stony table and a fleshy, so wide is that between these and those; consequently between themselves who ministered, and him who ministered to them. Yet because it was a great thing he had uttered, he therefore quickly checks himself, saying,