2 our letter ye are, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men,
first, indeed, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed in the whole world;
Am not I an apostle? am not I free? Jesus Christ our Lord have I not seen? my work are not ye in the Lord? if to others I am not an apostle -- yet doubtless to you I am; for the seal of my apostleship are ye in the Lord.
According to the grace of God that was given to me, as a wise master-builder, a foundation I have laid, and another doth build on `it',
not to condemn you do I say `it', for I have said before that in our hearts ye are to die with and to live with;
and I most gladly will spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, more abundantly loving you, less I am loved.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Corinthians 3
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
The apostle makes an apology for his seeming to commend himself, and is careful not to assume too much to himself, but to ascribe all praise unto God (v. 1-5). He then draws a comparison between the Old Testament and the New, and shows the excellency of the later above the former (v. 6-11), whence he infers what is the duty of gospel ministers, and the advantage of those who live under the gospel above those who lived under the law (v. 12-18).
2Cr 3:1-5
In these verses,
2Cr 3:6-11
Here the apostle makes a comparison between the Old Testament and the New, the law of Moses and the gospel of Jesus Christ, and values himself and his fellow-labourers by this, that they were able ministers of the New Testament, that God had made them so, v. 6. This he does in answer to the accusations of false teachers, who magnify greatly the law of Moses.
2Cr 3:12-18
In these verses the apostle draws two inferences from what he had said about the Old and New Testament:-