A.T. Robertson Commentary 2 Corinthians 3

To commend ourselves? (εαυτους συνιστανειν?). Late (Koine) form of συνιστημ, to place one with another, to introduce, to commend. Paul is sensitive over praising himself, though his enemies compelled him to do it.

Epistles of commendation (συστατικων επιστολων). Late verbal adjective from συνιστημ and often in the papyri and in just this sense. In the genitive case here after χρηιζομεν. Such letters were common as seen in the papyri (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 226). N.T. examples of commending individuals by letters occur in Ac 15:25f.; 18:27 (Apollos), 1 Corinthians 16:10f. (Timothy); Romans 16:1 (Phoebe with the verb συνιστημ); Colossians 4:10 (Mark); 2 Corinthians 8:22f. (Titus and his companion).

Ye are our epistle (η επιστολη ημων υμεις εστε). Bold turn. Paul was writing in their hearts.

Known and read (γινωσκομενη κα αναγινωσκομενη). Play on the word. Literally true. Professing Christians are the Bible that men read and know.

An epistle of Christ (επιστολη Χριστου). He turns the metaphor round and round. They are Christ's letter to men as well as Paul's.

Not with ink (ου μελαν). Instrumental case of μελας, black. Plato uses το μελαν for ink as here. See also 2 John 1:12; 3 John 1:13.

Of stone (λιθιναις). Composed of stone (λιθος and ending -ινος).

Of flesh (σαρκιναις). "Fleshen" as in 1 Corinthians 3:1; Romans 7:14.

Through Christ (δια του Χριστου). It is not self-conceit on Paul's part, but through Christ.

Of ourselves (αφ' εαυτων). Starting from ourselves (reflexive pronoun).

As from ourselves (ως εξ αυτων). He says it over again with preposition εξ (out of). He has no originating power for such confidence.

Sufficiency (ικανοτης). Old word, only here in N.T.