Second Corinthians 3 Part 3 Staying On Track To Live For God's Glory

In chapter three, Paul begins to address the lack of respect to his authority from God as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Paul did not need letters of commendation from men.

2 Corinthians 3:1  Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 

First, what are the "letters of commendation" that Paul refers to? 

These were letters of commendation from various churches carried by teachers who opposed the apostle. 

False teachers came to Corinth with letters of approval from other churches. When they left Corinth they sought to obtain similar letters from the Corinthians to other churches. 

Recorded in early records of church councils we see in the thirteenth canon of the Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451) the following requirement. 

“Clergymen coming to a city where they were unknown, should not be allowed to officiate [preach] without letters commendatory from their own bishop.” 

Acts 18:27-28  And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28)  For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. 

Church history  confirms the existence of this custom of sending letters of commendation from one church to another. 

While ministering at Ephesus, Apollos planned to visit Corinth. He received letters of commendation from the Ephesian church to take to Corinth.  

This occurred about two years before Paul wrote his second letter to the Corinthians. 

This is one of the examples that Paul refers to because many at Corinth boasted of being followers of Apollos (See 1 Corinthians 1:12).

Letters of commendation are similar to letters of reference some of my business professors gave me to use for job interviews as I neared graduation.

However, a church where false teaching took root would produce letters commending a false teacher and that is what Paul argues against.

2 Corinthians 3:1  Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 

Such letters were frequent in the early Church and were used in the apostolic Church. 

Generally such letters were not needed and were not used by the apostles. 

Those who helped the apostles and eventually took over for the apostles after they were martyred needed such letters. 

Those church leaders did not have an abundance of miraculous gifts of the Spirit like the apostles had. 

All those miraculous gifts of healing, prophecy, speaking in tongues passed away as the scriptures were completed. 

Therefore, such letters were necessary to prevent the Churches from being exposed to false teachers. 

In stark contrast, when apostles came to a city to preach the gospel, God certified them as His spokesmen with wonderful signs and spiritual gifts. 

Paul healed many people and raised the dead back to life. 

Paul preached the gospel in tongues (foreign language) when he arrived in an unfamiliar community. 

Paul cast out demons and made one gospel opponent to be blind. 

The gospel of Christ has power to save that cannot be matched by philosophy. 

1 Corinthians 4:14-16  I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15)  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16)  Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 

Some Corinthians were fickle minded and tended to follow or listen to philosophers and eloquent speakers. 

Therefore, Paul reminded them that their conversion to Christ happened when he preached the gospel to them. 

The apostle urged the Corinthians to follow him with great confidence because Paul followed hard after Christ. 

The miraculous power of God was put on mighty display through the apostle Paul. The Corinthians knew this undisputable truth about Paul.

Therefore, no human letter of commendation could match the powerful commendation from God!

Paul did not need or desire any letter of commendation to the Corinthians. He did not require letters of endorsement from them like false apostles or teachers did.  

His ministry among them was truly remarkable, even if his personal appearance was found unappealing by some Corinthians. 

Those who thought Paul's physical appearance lacked beauty did not look at his beautiful character as he was molded by Christ. 

Their haughty attitude reminds us of the proverb "You can't judge a book by its cover."

Lives changed by gospel power are proof of Paul's apostolic ministry. 

2 Corinthians 3:2-3  Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3)  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 

Instead, Paul said that the Corinthians who were regenerated by the Holy Spirit as he preached the gospel to them, were his letters of commendation.

Each changed life of each born again believer was a living witness to Paul's apostolic credentials. 

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (See Romans 10:17) and Paul faithfully preached the gospel of Christ everywhere that he traveled.

Those who responded with repentant faith in Christ received a new heart and a new spirit from God. 

Each new convert was given spiritual life and translated out of the Devil's domain and into the kingdom of God (See Colossians 1:12-14).

As souls were saved by gospel preaching, Ezekiel's prophecies about God giving us a new heart and new Spirit were literally fulfilled.

Paul's mission was leading souls to Christ and doing all for God's glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32)  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33)  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. 

Paul could command us to do all things for the glory of God (our thoughts, words and actions) because he lived his life by that principle. 

The apostle is not asking Christians to do something that he did not do. Rather, he is an example for us to follow Christ as we live out this life.

To the best of his ability, Paul never sought to offend Jews or Gentiles because his hope was for their salvation through preaching the gospel.

Transformed lives, new hearts and a new spirit show what God did by Paul.

Ezekiel 11:19-21  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20)  That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21)  But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.  

Jehovah promised to give those who trust Him, a heart focused on the things of God instead of the worthless things of a corrupt culture.

Those who repent and turn to Christ for salvation receive spiritual life whereas we were previously dead in our sins (See Ephesians 2:1-5).

God promises to remove the stony heart that is callous, cold or indifferent toward Him.

He promises to give us a new heart of flesh, one that is tender and open to the things of God.

God's purpose in doing the saving work in our heart is so that we may learn to obey His Word. He will be our God and we will be His redeemed people! 

Each Corinthian who had a new heart, a new spirit and began walking in newness of life with Christ, were Paul's living letters of commendation. 

No other commendation was needed by Paul and no letter could compete with the beauty of so many lives transformed by the power of the gospel.

May it be said of us that our goal in life is to lead souls to repentant faith in Jesus Christ.

May we have the heart for God that Paul did and make our lives a living, vibrant testimony of God's saving grace at work in us.

May we truly seek to do all things for His glory.

Bob