Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Parallel translations
- WEB You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
- BSB You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
- 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 from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
- Rom 1:8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
- 1 Cor 9:1–2Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
- Phil 1:7Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
- 2 Cor 11:11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
- 1 Cor 3:10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
- 2 Cor 7:3I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
- 2 Cor 12:15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
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
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