Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. New Living Translation Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. English Standard Version And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Berean Standard Bible It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Berean Literal Bible being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, having been ministered to by us, having been inscribed not in ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. King James Bible Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. New King James Version clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. New American Standard Bible revealing yourselves, that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. NASB 1995 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. NASB 1977 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. Legacy Standard Bible being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, ministered to by us, having been written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of hearts of flesh. Amplified Bible You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Christian Standard Bible You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God —not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Holman Christian Standard Bible It is clear that you are Christ’s letter, produced by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God—not on stone tablets but on tablets that are hearts of flesh. American Standard Version being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh. Contemporary English Version You are like a letter written by Christ and delivered by us. But you are not written with pen and ink or on tablets made of stone. You are written in our hearts by the Spirit of the living God. English Revised Version being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh. GOD'S WORD® Translation It's clear that you are Christ's letter, written as a result of our ministry. You are a letter written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, a letter written not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Good News Translation It is clear that Christ himself wrote this letter and sent it by us. It is written, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on stone tablets but on human hearts. International Standard Version You are demonstrating that you are the Messiah's letter, produced by our service, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Majority Standard Bible It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. NET Bible revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts. New Heart English Bible being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. Webster's Bible Translation Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on fleshly tables of the heart. Weymouth New Testament For all can see that you are a letter of Christ entrusted to our care, and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the ever-living God--and not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts as tablets. World English Bible being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionrevealed that you are a letter of Christ ministered by us, not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in the tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart, Berean Literal Bible being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, having been ministered to by us, having been inscribed not in ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. Young's Literal Translation manifested that ye are a letter of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in the tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart, Smith's Literal Translation Made manifest that ye are the epistle of Christ served by us, not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables made of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBeing manifested, that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart. Catholic Public Domain Version It has been made manifest that you are the Epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written down, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on tablets of stone, but on the fleshly tablets of the heart. New American Bible shown to be a letter of Christ administered by us, written not in ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets that are hearts of flesh. New Revised Standard Version and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor you are known to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the Living God; not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of the living heart. Aramaic Bible in Plain English For you know that you are a letter of The Messiah that is ministered by us, written not in ink, but by The Spirit of THE LIVING GOD, not in tablets of stone, but in tablets of hearts of flesh. NT Translations Anderson New Testamentyou are well known to be a letter of Christ, written by us as his ministers, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. Godbey New Testament being manifest that you are the letter of Christ, having been ministered by us, having been written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God: not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh. Haweis New Testament because ye are manifestly seen to be the letter of Christ, of which we have been the secretaries, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tables of stone, but on the fleshly tables of the heart. Mace New Testament which shows you to be the epistle of Christ, written by my ministration, not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on living tables of the heart. Weymouth New Testament For all can see that you are a letter of Christ entrusted to our care, and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the ever-living God--and not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts as tablets. Worrell New Testament being made manifest that ye are Christ's epistle ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. Worsley New Testament being manifest that ye are the epistle of Christ, through our ministration, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on tables of the heart of flesh. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Ministers of a New Covenant…2You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.… Cross References Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. Romans 2:29 No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God. Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.” Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh, / so that they may follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God. Jeremiah 32:40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will never turn away from Me. Romans 7:6 But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, / gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God! 1 John 3:24 Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us. Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh? Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose. Treasury of Scripture For as much as you are manifestly declared to be the letter of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. the epistle. Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. Revelation 2:1,8,12,18 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; … Revelation 3:1,7,14,22 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead… ministered. 1 Corinthians 8:5-10 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) … the living. 2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Joshua 3:10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 1 Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? not. Exodus 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. Exodus 34:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest. but. Psalm 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: Jump to Previous Care Christ Christ's Clearly Declared Delivered Entrusted Epistle Ever-Living Flesh Fleshly Forasmuch Fruit Heart Hearts Ink Letter Manifested Manifestly Ministered Ministry Recorded Result Revealed Served Show Spirit Stone Tables Tablets Work WrittenJump to Next Care Christ Christ's Clearly Declared Delivered Entrusted Epistle Ever-Living Flesh Fleshly Forasmuch Fruit Heart Hearts Ink Letter Manifested Manifestly Ministered Ministry Recorded Result Revealed Served Show Spirit Stone Tables Tablets Work Written2 Corinthians 3 1. Lest their false teachers should charge him with vain glory, 2. he shows the faith of the Corinthians to be a sufficient commendation of his ministry. 6. Whereupon entering a comparison between the ministers of the law and of the gospel, 12. he proves that his ministry is so far the more excellent, 17. as the gospel of life and liberty is more glorious than the law of condemnation. It is clear that you are a letter from Christ This phrase emphasizes the visible transformation in the lives of the Corinthian believers, serving as a testament to Christ's work. In the ancient world, letters were a primary means of communication, and here, the believers themselves are depicted as a living letter, showcasing the message of Christ. This metaphor highlights the personal and relational nature of the gospel, contrasting with the impersonal nature of written documents. The idea of believers as a letter from Christ underscores the authenticity and divine origin of their faith, as seen in other scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 1:8-9, where the faith of the Thessalonians is known everywhere. the result of our ministry written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts Persons / Places / Events 1. Paul the ApostleThe author of 2 Corinthians, addressing the church in Corinth, emphasizing the spiritual transformation of believers. 2. The Corinthian Church The recipients of the letter, representing the early Christian community in Corinth, known for its diversity and challenges. 3. Christ Central to the message, as the one who transforms believers into living letters through the Spirit. 4. The Spirit of the Living God The divine agent who writes on the hearts of believers, signifying the new covenant. 5. Tablets of Stone Refers to the Old Covenant, specifically the Ten Commandments given to Moses, contrasting with the new covenant written on hearts. Teaching Points The Living Letter of ChristBelievers are living testimonies of Christ's work, reflecting His character and message to the world. The Role of the Holy Spirit The transformation of the heart is a work of the Holy Spirit, not human effort, emphasizing reliance on divine power. The New Covenant The shift from external adherence to internal transformation marks the new covenant, inviting believers to a deeper relationship with God. Heart Transformation True change begins in the heart, where God's Spirit writes His laws, leading to genuine obedience and love. Ministry as a Partnership with God Paul’s ministry serves as a conduit for God’s work, reminding believers of their role in partnering with God to impact others.(3) Forasmuch, as ye are manifestly declared.--The metaphor appears to shift its ground from the subjective to the objective. It is not only as written in his heart, but as seen and known by others, that they (the Corinthians) are as a letter of commendation. They are as a letter which Christ had written as with the finger of God. That letter, he adds, was "ministered by us." He had been, that is, as the amanuensis of that letter, but Christ was the real writer. Written not with ink.--Letters were usually written on papyrus, with a reed pen and with a black pigment (atramentum) used as ink. (Comp. 2John 1:12.) In contrast with this process, he speaks of the Epistle of Christ as written with the "Spirit of the living God." It is noteworthy that the Spirit takes here the place of the older "finger of God" in the history of the two tables of stone in Exodus 31:18. So a like substitution is found in comparing "If I with the finger of God cast out devils," in Luke 11:20, with "If I by the Spirit of God," in Matthew 12:28. Traces of the same thought are found in the hymn in the Ordination service, in which the Holy Spirit is addressed as "the finger of God's hand." Not in tables of stone.--The thought of a letter written in the heart by the Spirit of God brings three memorable passages to St. Paul's memory:--(1) the "heart of flesh" of Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26-27; (2) the promise that the law should be written in the heart, which was to be the special characteristic of the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-33); and (3) the whole history of the circumstances of the first, or older, covenant; and, from this verse to the end of the chapter, thought follows rapidly on thought in manifold application of the images thus suggested. . . . Verse 3. - Manifestly declared. The fame and centrality of Corinth gave peculiar prominence to the fact of their conversion. The epistle of Christ ministered by us. The Corinthians are the epistle; it is written on the hearts of St. Paul and his companions; Christ was its Composer; they were its amanuenses and its conveyers. The development of the metaphor as a metaphor would be somewhat clumsy and intricate, but St. Paul only cares to shadow forth the essential fact which he wishes them to recognize. Not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; i.e. not with visible or perishable materials, but spiritual in its origin and character. The notion of "the finger of God" naturally recalled the notion of "the Spirit of God" (comp. Matthew 12:28 with Luke 11:20). Not in tables of stone. God's writing by means of the Spirit on the heart reminds him of another writing of God on the stone tablets of the Law, which he therefore introduces with no special regard to the congruity of the metaphor about "an epistle." But in fleshy tables of the heart. The overwhelming preponderance of manuscript authority supports the reading "but in fleshen tablets - hearts." St. Paul is thinking of Jeremiah 31:33, "I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts;" and Ezekiel 11:22, "I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh." The tablets were not hard and fragile, but susceptible and receptive. Our letters of introduction are inward not outward, spiritual not material, permanent not perishable, legible to all not only by a few, written by Christ not by man.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek It is clearφανερούμενοι (phaneroumenoi) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 5319: To make clear (visible, manifest), make known. From phaneros; to render apparent. that ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. you are ἐστὲ (este) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. a letter ἐπιστολὴ (epistolē) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 1992: A letter, dispatch, epistle, message. From epistello; a written message. from Christ, Χριστοῦ (Christou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus. the result of our ministry, διακονηθεῖσα (diakonētheisa) Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 1247: From diakonos; to be an attendant, i.e. Wait upon (figuratively) teacher; technically, to act as a Christian deacon. written ἐνγεγραμμένη (engegrammenē) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 1449: To write, inscribe. From en and grapho; to 'engrave', i.e. Inscribe. not οὐ (ou) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. with ink μέλανι (melani) Noun - Dative Neuter Singular Strong's 3188: Ink. Neuter of melas as noun; ink. but ἀλλὰ (alla) Conjunction Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise. with [the] Spirit Πνεύματι (Pneumati) Noun - Dative Neuter Singular Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit. of [the] living ζῶντος (zōntos) Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 2198: To live, be alive. A primary verb; to live. God, Θεοῦ (Theou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. not οὐκ (ouk) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. on ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. tablets πλαξὶν (plaxin) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 4109: A tablet, flat surface. From plasso; a moulding-board, i.e. Flat surface. of stone λιθίναις (lithinais) Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 3035: Made of stone. From lithos; stony, i.e. Made of stone. but ἀλλ’ (all’) Conjunction Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise. on ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. tablets πλαξὶν (plaxin) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 4109: A tablet, flat surface. From plasso; a moulding-board, i.e. Flat surface. of human σαρκίναις (sarkinais) Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 4560: Fleshly, consisting of flesh, carnal. From sarx; similar to flesh, i.e. soft. hearts. καρδίαις (kardiais) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle. Links 2 Corinthians 3:3 NIV2 Corinthians 3:3 NLT 2 Corinthians 3:3 ESV 2 Corinthians 3:3 NASB 2 Corinthians 3:3 KJV 2 Corinthians 3:3 BibleApps.com 2 Corinthians 3:3 Biblia Paralela 2 Corinthians 3:3 Chinese Bible 2 Corinthians 3:3 French Bible 2 Corinthians 3:3 Catholic Bible NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 3:3 Being revealed that you are a letter (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor) |
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