2 Corinthians 3:1
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need (as some do) epistles of commendation to you, or from you?
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- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Incipimus iterum nosmetipsos commendare ? aut numquid egemus (sicut quidam) commendatitiis epistolis ad vos, aut ex vobis ?
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- Ἀρχόμεθα πάλιν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστάνειν; ἢ μὴ χρῄζομεν ὥς τινες συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἢ ἐξ ὑμῶν;
Haydock's commentary
The apostle had been obliged, in different parts of his first epistle, to say some things to his own advantage, in order to maintain the dignity of his ministry against false teachers, who had endeavoured to lessen his authority. He is again obliged to shew the excellency of his ministry, and the superiority of the gospel over the law of Moses. (Theodoret)
We have not need, he says, of commendatory letters, like those false teachers: we have only to say that we founded the Church of Corinth, and we shall be sufficiently known. Your religion, your piety, and your virtues are renowned in the whole world. (ver. 2.) This is our letter: we have no need to speak: the effects speak for themselves. But still this is not our doing; for we are not sufficient to think any thing of ourselves. (ver. 5.) This letter is not of our writing; we could only do the same as Moses in the old law, prepare the tables, (ministered by us) it was God himself that wrote the ten commandments, and it is God himself that has written this our letter, by implanting his faith in your hearts. (Calmet)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom Homilies on Second Corinthians, Homily VI
2 Cor. iii. 1 Are we beginning, again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?
St John Chrysostom Homilies on Second Corinthians, Homily XXI
Having completed, in such sort as behoved his discourse of almsgiving, and having shown that he loves them more than he is loved, and having recounted the circumstances of his patience and trials, he now opportunely enters upon points involving more of reproof, making allusion to the false apostles, and concluding his discourse with more disagreeable matter, and with commendations of himself. For he makes this his business also throughout the Epistle. Which also perceiving, he hence oftentimes corrects himself, saying in so many words; “Do we begin again to commend ourselves?” ( Ch. iii. 1 .) and further on; “We commend not ourselves again, but give you occasion to glory:” ( Ch. v. 12 .) and afterwards; “I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me.” ( Ch. xii. 11 .) And many such correctives doth he use. …
St John Chrysostom Homilies on Second Corinthians, Homily XXVIII
Seest thou how he is continually in fear, lest he should incur the suspicion of flattery? Seest thou an Apostle’s prudence, how constantly he mentions this? For he said before, “We commend not ourselves again, but give you occasion to glory;” ( 2 Cor. v. 12 .) and in the commencement of the Epistle, “Do we need letters of commendation?” ( ib. iii. 1 .)
St Gregory Nazianzen On Pentecost
IX. The Holy Ghost, then, always existed, and exists, and always will exist. He neither had a beginning, nor will He have an end; but He was everlastingly ranged with and numbered with the Father and the Son. For it was not ever fitting that either the Son should be wanting to the Father, or the Spirit to the Son. For then Deity would be shorn of Its Glory in its greatest respect, for It would seem to have arrived at the consummation of perfection as if by an afterthought. …
The Ecumenical Councils The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods, Canon VIII
“Commendatory letters” ( ἐπιστολαὶ συστατικαὶ ) are spoken of by St. Paul in 2 Cor. iii. 1 , and the reader will find some interesting remarks on this and cognate subjects in J. J. Blunt’s, The Christian Church during the first three Centuries (Chapter II).
The Ecumenical Councils The Canons of the Synods of Sardica, Carthage, Constantinople, and Carthage Under St. Cyprian, Which Canons Were Received by the Council in Trullo and Ratified by II. Nice, Canon XXIII
[The use of Letters Commendatory was very early in the Church; St. Paul mentions them II. Cor. iij. 1 . And it is not easy to be conceived how discipline can be restored but by the reviving of this practice. It is surely irregular to admit all chance comers to the Communion, who, for aught we know, may stand excommunicated by their own bishop. Of the difference between Commendatory and Pacific and Formal Letters, see Can. Chalc., 11; Apost., 25, 26; Ant., 6; Sardic., 13].