2 Corinthians 3:4
And such confidence we have, through Christ, towards God.
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- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Fiduciam autem talem habemus per Christum ad Deum :
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- Πεποίθησιν δὲ τοιαύτην ἔχομεν διὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ πρὸς τὸν θεόν.
The Fathers on this verse
St Augustine A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter, The Passage in Corinthians
In the passage where he speaks to the Corinthians about the letter that kills, and the spirit that gives life, he expresses himself more clearly, but he does not mean even there any other “letter” to be understood than the Decalogue itself, which was written on the two tables. For these are His words: “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. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who hath made us fit, as ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. …
St Augustine A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter, The New Law Written Within
Now, observe how consonant this diversity is with those words of the apostle which I quoted not long ago in another connection, and which I postponed for a more careful consideration afterwards: “Forasmuch,” says he, “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.” See how he shows that the one is written without man, that it may alarm him from without; the other within man himself, that it may justify him from within. He speaks of the “fleshy tables of the heart,” not of the carnal mind, but of a living agent possessing sensation, in comparison with a stone, which is senseless. …
St John Chrysostom Homilies on Second Corinthians, Homily VI
Ver. 4 . “And such confidence have we through Christ to Godward,” And again refers all to God: for it is Christ, saith he, Who is the Author of these things to us.
St Jerome Against the Pelagians, Book II
2 Cor. iii. 4-6 . Our sufficiency is of God.
St Jerome Against the Pelagians, Book III
9. The Apostle Paul, rapidly recounting the benefits of God, ended with the words,“And who is sufficient for these things?” Wherefore, also, in another place hesays, “Such confidence have we through Christ to Godward; not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; Who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Do we still dare to pride ourselves on free will, and to abuse the benefits of God to the dishonour of the giver? Whereas the same chosen vessel openlywrites, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.” Therefore, also, in another place, checking the impudence of the heretics, hesays, “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. …