2Cor 3:2-3 | KingComments | STEP | . The last verse of the previous chapter might give the impression that once again Paul was trying to prove himself to the Corinthians. But that of course was not the case. Did he need to commend himself to them as though he was not known to them? Did they not know who he was? Should anyone else recommend him to them? Did they not know that he really was the man who dedicated his life to the service of God? Yes, there were others who came with letters of commendation; but they were unknown people. Yes, there were people brought who did come into the church in Corinth with a letter of commendation because they were unknown people. Such a letter was a safeguard to prevent the infiltration of false brethren into the church. A letter of commendation was a testimony given by others about the bearer of the letter. Such a letter guarantees that the church is dealing with reliable persons. In Acts 9 we come across a spoken testimony ( ). The recently converted Saul wants to join the company of disciples. The believers suspect that it is a trick of the persecutor of Christians. But the testimony of Barnabas whom the believers trusted is a great relief, for he testifies to the genuineness of Saul’s conversion. In the days of confusion in which we live such credentials are necessary. This guarantees the fact that we are dealing with a genuine believer who is also known to others. We cannot rely on self-attested testimonies. Even in social life credentials are inevitable requirements. It always is a testimony given by others about a certain person. It is important that the local churches demand authorized credentials for unknown people. In the absence of such credentials any irresponsible person can enter the church and create havoc misleading the believers. . But should Paul also be treated on the same line by the Corinthians? Did he require a letter of commendation? The Corinthian church itself was Paul’s letter of commendation in person. The believers were known to all as the result of Paul’s labor among them. They were letters written in the apostle’s heart. He always carried them with himself. He could show them any moment to any one as his credentials. If Paul were asked about the manner in which he served the Lord he would point to them. People recognized the Corinthian believers as those Paul preached Christ to. They believed in Christ and for Him they wanted to live. . They were Paul’s letter of commendation. What was written in that letter was Christ. They were a letter of Christ. Christ was seen in their life. Through the preaching of Paul the Holy Spirit had written Christ in their hearts. All believers in Corinth together constituted this letter. It is also beautiful to keep in mind that every believer in a local church is necessary to read ‘the letter’ in its entirety. Each believer is unique in a sense that each one reveals a different aspect of Christ. So we need each other to reproduce the content of the letter that is Christ. This, of course, does not change the fact that your personal life also is a letter. Your life is read by other people. What do they read in your life? But as it is said here it is about the believers together. The work of writing this letter is entirely the work of “the Spirit of the living God”. He alone is able to work that in us. We are the living materials with which and upon which He works. He has written in our hearts Who Christ is so that He can be seen in our lives. Haven’t you accepted Christ in your heart? Out of the heart flow “the springs of life” ( ). Everything you do in your whole life has its origin in your heart. Now Christ is written in your heart. You can show Him in all your activities now. It is impossible to do so for the law that was written on the tablets of stone. Although Christ and the law are not the same they do not contradict each other. The Lord Jesus longed to fulfill the law and He also did it. All of God has become visible in Christ so that He is able to say: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” ( ). But in the law of God not all but only something of God became visible. The law of God presented before men only the just demands of God. However no one could keep the law and therefore nothing of the testimony of God became visible to people in this world. Rather the opposite is true, as you will see later in this chapter. The law brings judgment, curse and death on man. . Now it is possible to present Christ to the world, but not through your own efforts. For this you may have “confidence … through Christ toward God”. Through Christ you can receive from Him all that is necessary to make you a readable letter. You are unable to do it yourself because you do not have the necessary strength. It is possible only through the power of God. But you may count on that completely. Paul is aware of his inadequacy to fulfill the task entrusted to him, but he knows that his adequacy is “from God”. God is the source of strength for his ministry. Read again 2 Corinthians 3:1-5 again. Reflection: How can you be a readable letter of Christ?

‏ 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

A Letter of Christ

2Cor 3:1. The last verse of the previous chapter might give the impression that once again Paul was trying to prove himself to the Corinthians. But that of course was not the case. Did he need to commend himself to them as though he was not known to them? Did they not know who he was? Should anyone else recommend him to them? Did they not know that he really was the man who dedicated his life to the service of God?

Yes, there were others who came with letters of commendation; but they were unknown people. Yes, there were people brought who did come into the church in Corinth with a letter of commendation because they were unknown people. Such a letter was a safeguard to prevent the infiltration of false brethren into the church. A letter of commendation was a testimony given by others about the bearer of the letter. Such a letter guarantees that the church is dealing with reliable persons.

In Acts 9 we come across a spoken testimony (Acts 9:26-27). The recently converted Saul wants to join the company of disciples. The believers suspect that it is a trick of the persecutor of Christians. But the testimony of Barnabas whom the believers trusted is a great relief, for he testifies to the genuineness of Saul’s conversion.

In the days of confusion in which we live such credentials are necessary. This guarantees the fact that we are dealing with a genuine believer who is also known to others. We cannot rely on self-attested testimonies. Even in social life credentials are inevitable requirements. It always is a testimony given by others about a certain person.

It is important that the local churches demand authorized credentials for unknown people. In the absence of such credentials any irresponsible person can enter the church and create havoc misleading the believers.

2Cor 3:2. But should Paul also be treated on the same line by the Corinthians? Did he require a letter of commendation? The Corinthian church itself was Paul’s letter of commendation in person. The believers were known to all as the result of Paul’s labor among them. They were letters written in the apostle’s heart. He always carried them with himself. He could show them any moment to any one as his credentials. If Paul were asked about the manner in which he served the Lord he would point to them. People recognized the Corinthian believers as those Paul preached Christ to. They believed in Christ and for Him they wanted to live.

2Cor 3:3. They were Paul’s letter of commendation. What was written in that letter was Christ. They were a letter of Christ. Christ was seen in their life. Through the preaching of Paul the Holy Spirit had written Christ in their hearts.

All believers in Corinth together constituted this letter. It is also beautiful to keep in mind that every believer in a local church is necessary to read ‘the letter’ in its entirety. Each believer is unique in a sense that each one reveals a different aspect of Christ. So we need each other to reproduce the content of the letter that is Christ.

This, of course, does not change the fact that your personal life also is a letter. Your life is read by other people. What do they read in your life? But as it is said here it is about the believers together.

The work of writing this letter is entirely the work of “the Spirit of the living God”. He alone is able to work that in us. We are the living materials with which and upon which He works. He has written in our hearts Who Christ is so that He can be seen in our lives. Haven’t you accepted Christ in your heart? Out of the heart flow “the springs of life” (Pro 4:23). Everything you do in your whole life has its origin in your heart. Now Christ is written in your heart. You can show Him in all your activities now.

It is impossible to do so for the law that was written on the tablets of stone. Although Christ and the law are not the same they do not contradict each other. The Lord Jesus longed to fulfill the law and He also did it. All of God has become visible in Christ so that He is able to say: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). But in the law of God not all but only something of God became visible. The law of God presented before men only the just demands of God. However no one could keep the law and therefore nothing of the testimony of God became visible to people in this world. Rather the opposite is true, as you will see later in this chapter. The law brings judgment, curse and death on man.

2Cor 3:4-5. Now it is possible to present Christ to the world, but not through your own efforts. For this you may have “confidence … through Christ toward God”. Through Christ you can receive from Him all that is necessary to make you a readable letter. You are unable to do it yourself because you do not have the necessary strength. It is possible only through the power of God. But you may count on that completely. Paul is aware of his inadequacy to fulfill the task entrusted to him, but he knows that his adequacy is “from God”. God is the source of strength for his ministry.

Read again 2 Corinthians 3:1-5 again.

Reflection: How can you be a readable letter of Christ?