Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 3:1

"Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you?" — 2 Corinthians 3:1 (ASV)

Behind each of the two questions in this verse, both of which expect the answer “no,” stands an actual or expected charge against Paul. Since he had just spoken of the distinctive role of apostles (2:14–16) and of his own divine commission and authority (2:17; cf. 1:12; 1 Corinthians 4:15–16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Corinthians 14:18; 1 Corinthians 15:10), some of the Corinthians might say, “Paul, once again you are indulging in your notorious habit of self-commendation.” Furthermore, some of “the many” who were profiting from preaching (2:17) had undoubtedly been making a charge like this: “Since Jerusalem is the starting point of Christianity, anyone working outside that city must be able to give proof of his apostolic commission by letters of recommendation from the believers there. We brought you Corinthians such commendatory letters, and you yourselves have supplied us with such when we have visited other places. Why should you regard Paul as an exception? Does not his unconcern about letters of recommendation prove he is an intruder and impostor?” Paul is not here disparaging the use of letters “of recommendation” (GK 5364). He himself had sought epistolary credentials from the high priest at Jerusalem before setting out for the synagogues of Damascus (Acts 9:2; Acts 22:5), and their use within the Christian world was established (see Ac 15:22, 25–27; 18:27). Paul himself wrote what amounted to commendatory letters (Romans 16:1–2; 1 Corinthians 16:3, 10–11; 2 Corinthians 8:16–24).

His opponents apparently carried letters as their credentials, probably not from the three Jerusalem “pillars” (Galatians 2:9) or the Twelve, but from the Pharisaic wing of the Jerusalem church, who regarded the scrupulous observance of the Mosaic law as essential for salvation (Acts 15:5) and were unable to distinguish between the law-abiding conduct of the Twelve and legalistic teaching.