2 Corinthians 3:1 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) Are we beginning to commend ourselves again [i.e., by saying that we are not like other people]? Or, do we need letters of recommendation to you or from you, as others do? More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Amplified Bible - Classic Edition ARE WE starting to commend ourselves again? Or we do not, like some [false teachers], need written credentials or letters of recommendation to you or from you, [do we]? American Standard Version (1901) Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you? Common English Bible Are we starting to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of introduction to you or from you like other people, do we? Catholic Public Domain Version Must we begin again to commend ourselves? Or are we in need (as some are) of epistles of commendation for you, or from you? Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need (as some do) epistles of commendation to you, or from you? |
And when he desired to travel over into Achaia, he was encouraged [to do so] by the brothers, who wrote to the disciples [in Achaia and urged them] to welcome him. When he arrived [in Achaia] he was a great help to those who had become believers through the unearned favor of God. [Note: An alternate meaning is, “he was a great help, through God’s unearned favor upon him, to those who had become believers”].
I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church at Cenchrea. [Note: This was a seaport town about seven miles east of Corinth].
For even I myself [try] to please everyone in every way, and not to look out [just] for my own good, but [also] for the good of many people, so that they may be saved.
Then when I arrive, I will send letters with the men you appoint to take the gift to Jerusalem.
Using the unearned favor shown to me by God [Note: Paul here probably refers to his apostleship and its attending spiritual gifts], as an expert building contractor, I laid the foundation [i.e., in starting the Corinthian church], and someone else is building on it [i.e., Apollos. See verse 6].
For although you have ten thousand guardians [Note: This word means someone who transported a child to his teacher] in [the fellowship of] Christ, you do not have many [spiritual] fathers. For I [spiritually] conceived you people through [preaching to you] the good news [about Christ]. [Note: Paul here refers to his work in establishing the church at Corinth].
For we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with certain people who commend themselves. People who measure their[spiritual] stature by what [they think] they are, and compare their [spiritual] status with their own set of standards, are foolish.
For it is not the person who commends himself that is approved [by God], but the one whom the Lord commends.
For even if I should boast too much about the authority the Lord gave us for building you people up [spiritually], and not tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
I have become foolish [i.e., by my boasting], but you made me do it [i.e., in order to vindicate myself] For I should have been commended by you [i.e., for my effective ministry there in Corinth], because I was not inferior in any way to those “super apostles” [See 11:5], even though I am nothing.
You have been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves [have you not]? We are [simply] speaking [the truth] before God in [fellowship with] Christ. But everything [we are doing], dear friends, is to build you up [spiritually].
For we [apostles] are not like so many people, who “peddle” God’s message merely for profit [or, “who corrupt God’s message”], but in Christ’s [service] we proclaim the message from God with sincerity, [realizing we are] in the presence of God.
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but we speak [in such a way as] to give you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can have an answer for those who take pride in [outward] appearances instead of what is in the heart.