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.
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:
- 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,
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 the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out; so that we need not to say anything.
- Rom 1:8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.
- 1 Cor 9:1–2Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord?
- Phil 1:7It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.
- 2 Cor 11:11Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows.
- 1 Cor 3:10According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
- 2 Cor 7:3I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die together and live together.
- 2 Cor 12:15I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the 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.