You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
Parallel translations
- WEB You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
- KJV Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
- NKJV You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
- NASB You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all people,
- NLT The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Corinthians themselves are Paul's letter of recommendation, written on his heart and visible to all. Their transformed lives prove the validity of his ministry.
Overview
Instead of paper credentials, Paul points to the believers themselves as living proof of his apostleship. They are 'written in our hearts,' an object of his love, and 'known and read by all,' a public testimony. This shows that the fruit of changed lives, more than any document, authenticates faithful gospel ministry.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Th 1:8For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more.
- Rom 1:8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
- 1 Cor 9:1–2Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?
- Phil 1:7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
- 2 Cor 11:11Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
- 1 Cor 3:10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.
- 2 Cor 7:3I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.
- 2 Cor 12:15And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
Resources, by level
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 3:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.