2 Corinthians 3:4

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: AND - Greek, 'But.' 'Such confidence, however (namely, of our "sufficiency," 2 Corinthians 3:5; , to which he reverts after the parenthesis), as ministers of the New Testament, who have a sufficient 'letter of commendation' in you (2 Corinthians 3:1), we have through Christ, (not through ourselves: cf. ) toward God' (i:e., in our relation to God, to whom we must render an account of our ministry). Confidence toward God is solid, as looking to Him for the strength needed now, and for the reward of grace to be given hereafter. Compare...

4._And such confidence _As it was a magnificent commendation, that Paul had pronounced to the honor of himself and his Apostleship, lest he should seem to speak of himself more confidently than was befitting, he transfers the entire glory to God, from whom he acknowledges that he has received everything that he has. “By this boasting,” says he, “I extol God rather than myself, _by whose grace I am what I am.” _(1 Corinthians 15:10.) He adds, as he is accustomed to do _by Christ, _because he is, as it were, the channel, through which all God’s benefits flow forth to us....

1-11 Even the appearance of self-praise and courting human applause, is painful to the humble and spiritual mind. Nothing is more delightful to faithful ministers, or more to their praise, than the success of their ministry, as shown in the spirits and lives of those among whom they labour. The law of Christ was written in their hearts, and the love of Christ shed abroad there. Nor was it written in tables of stone, as the law of God given to Moses, but on the fleshy (not fleshly, as fleshliness denotes sensuality) tables of the heart, Ezekiel 36:26. Their hearts were humbled and softened to receive this impression, by the new-creating power of the Holy Spirit. He ascribes all the glory to God. And remember, as our whole dependence is upon the Lord, so the whole glory belongs to him alone. The letter killeth: the letter of the law is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the...

Verse 2 Corinthians 3:4. _SUCH TRUST HAVE WE_] We have the fullest conviction that God has thus accredited our ministry; and that ye are thus converted unto him, and are monuments of his mercy, and proofs of the truth of our ministry....

AND SUCH TRUST HAVE WE - Such confidence have we that we are appointed by God, and that he accepts our work. Such evidence have we in the success of our labors; such irrefragable proof that God blesses us; that we have trust, or confidence, that we are sent by God, and are owned by him in our ministry. His confidence did not rest on letters of introduction from people, but in the evidence of the divine presence, and the divine acceptance of his work. THROUGH CHRIST - By the agency of Christ. Paul had no success which he did not trace to him; he had no joy of which he was not the source; he had no confidence, or trust in God of which Christ was not the author; he had no hope of success in his ministry which did not depend on him. TO GOD-WARD - Toward God; in regard to God (πρὸς τὸν Θεόν pros ton Theon).

EXPOSITION Defence against the charge of self-recommendation, which St. Paul does not need (2 Corinthians 3:1). His sufficiency comes from God (2 Corinthians 3:4), who has made him minister of a covenant far more glorious than that given to Hosea (verses 7-11). This ministry needs no veil upon the face (verses 12, 13), such as to this day darkens the hearts of the Jews (verses 14, 15), though it shall one day be removed (verses 16-18). 2 CORINTHIANS 3:1 _St. Paul's ministry is his sufficient letter of commendation. _ 2 Corinthians 3:1

AND SUCH TRUST HAVE WE,.... This refers to what he had said in the latter end of the foregoing chapter, and the beginning of this; as that they made manifest the savoury knowledge of God and Christ everywhere, and were the sweet savour of Christ to many souls; were sufficient in some measure, through the grace of Christ, to preach the Gospel sincerely and faithfully, and were attended with success, had many seals of their ministry, and particularly the Corinthians were so many living epistles of commendations of the power and efficacy of their ministry; such confidence and firm persuasion of the truth of grace on your souls, and of our being the happy instruments of it, we have THROUGH CHRIST, the grace of Christ, TO GOD-WARD: who is the object of our confidence and hope, and the ground thereof....

4. THE MINISTRY OF THE NEW COVENANT IN CONTRAST WITH THE OLD. CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The Epistle of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:1)_ 2. The True Sufficiency. (2 Corinthians 3:4) 3. The Old and New Ministry Contrasted. (2 Corinthians 3:7) 4. The Glory in the Face of Moses and the Glory in the Face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:12 .) It was customary in the church to give letters of commendation (Acts 18:27; Rom

2 Corinthians 3:1 to 2 Corinthians 4:10. THE SPLENDOUR OF THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY IN SPITE OF ITS OUTWARD LOWLINESS. 2 Corinthians 3:1. One of the charges laid against Paul had probably been that of overweening self-esteem, leading to a claim to greater authority than rightfully belonged to him. One of the means used by his enemies had been letters of introduction from high authorities, possibly apostles in Jerusalem. Was he not now displaying only too clearly the reasonableness of such a charge? Did he really need to justify himself, as by such letters others had done? Far from it. The church at Corinth was his sufficient testimonial. Its religious experience, recorded in the hearts of th

EACH MAN A LETTER OF CHRIST (2 Corinthians 3:1-3)...