2 Corinthians 3:1

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

A Living Letter 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?

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Acts 18:27 : 27 When 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,
  • 2 Cor 5:12 : 12 We 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 Cor 12:11 : 11 The Signs of an Apostle I 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.
  • 2 Cor 10:12 : 12 Paul’s Mission For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.
  • 1 Cor 16:3 : 3 Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
  • 2 Cor 2:17 : 17 For 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 Cor 10:8 : 8 For 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.
  • 1 Cor 3:10 : 10 According 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 Cor 4:15 : 15 For 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 Cor 10:33 : 33 just 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.
  • 2 Cor 12:19 : 19 Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 2 Cor 3:2-5
    4 verses
    81%

    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.

    4Now we have such confidence in God through Christ.

    5Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

  • 2 Cor 5:12-13
    2 verses
    79%

    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.

    13For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

  • 1 Thess 2:4-6
    3 verses
    73%

    4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts.

    5For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed– God is our witness–

    6nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,

  • 2 Cor 10:11-13
    3 verses
    73%

    11Let such a person consider this: What we say by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.

    12Paul’s Mission For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

    13But we will not boast beyond certain limits, but will confine our boasting according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, that reaches even as far as you.

  • 2 Cor 1:12-14
    3 verses
    72%

    12Paul Defends His Changed Plans For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God– not by human wisdom but by the grace of God– we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.

    13For we do not write you anything other than what you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely

    14just as also you have partly understood us, that we are your source of pride just as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

  • 2 Thess 3:9
    71%

    9It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

  • 2 Cor 12:19
    71%

    19Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.

  • 2 Cor 10:18
    71%

    18For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.

  • 2 Cor 10:7-9
    3 verses
    70%

    7You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.

    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.

    9I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,

  • 1 Thess 2:1-2
    2 verses
    70%

    1Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you– it has not proven to be purposeless.

    2But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition.

  • 2 Cor 4:5
    70%

    5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.

  • 2 Cor 7:2-3
    2 verses
    70%

    2Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have exploited no one.

    3I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you before that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you.

  • 2 Cor 10:16
    69%

    16so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.

  • 2 Cor 9:1
    69%

    1Preparing the Gift For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints,

  • 1 Thess 4:1
    69%

    1A Life Pleasing to God Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how you must live and please God(as you are in fact living) that you do so more and more.

  • 1 Thess 3:9
    69%

    9For how can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel because of you before our God?

  • 2 Cor 8:6
    69%

    6Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you.

  • 1 Cor 4:6
    69%

    6I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn“not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other.

  • 2 Cor 10:2
    69%

    2now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that(I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving according to human standards.

  • 2 Cor 4:2
    68%

    2But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.

  • 2 Pet 3:1
    68%

    1The False Teachers’ Denial of the Lord’s Return Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder:

  • 1 Thess 1:5
    68%

    5in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction(surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).

  • 2 Cor 8:24
    68%

    24Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.

  • 1 Thess 2:9-10
    2 verses
    68%

    9For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

    10You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.

  • 1 Thess 1:8-9
    2 verses
    68%

    8For from you the message of the Lord has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, so that we do not need to say anything.

    9For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

  • 2 Cor 9:3
    68%

    3But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them.

  • Phlm 1:8
    68%

    8Paul’s Request for Onesimus So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,

  • 1 Cor 9:2
    68%

    2If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the confirming sign of my apostleship in the Lord.

  • Gal 1:10
    68%

    10Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!

  • Phil 3:17
    68%

    17Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.

  • 1 Thess 3:6
    68%

    6But now Timothy has come to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection and long to see us just as we also long to see you!

  • 2 Thess 3:7
    68%

    7For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you,

  • 2 Thess 2:1
    68%

    1The Day of the Lord Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,

  • 1 Thess 3:1
    68%

    1So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to stay on in Athens alone.