not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;
Parallel translations
- KJV Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
- BSB Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
- NKJV Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
- NASB Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
- NLT It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.
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
Paul claims no competence in himself; his sufficiency for ministry comes entirely from God. Human adequacy for God's work is a gift, not an achievement.
Overview
Answering his earlier question, 'Who is sufficient?', Paul confesses that he cannot even claim a single thought as coming from his own resources. All capability for gospel work is given by God. This radical dependence is foundational to faithful ministry and to the Christian life, which lives wholly by grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Cor 12:9He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
- Phil 4:13I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
- 1 Cor 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
- Phil 2:13For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
- John 15:5I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
- Jas 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.
- Matt 10:19–20But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.
- 1 Cor 3:6I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
- Exod 4:10–16Moses said to Yahweh, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
- Jer 1:6–10Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”
- 2 Cor 4:7But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.
- 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.
- Luke 24:49Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.”
- 2 Cor 2:16to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 3:5 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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